News release
18 November 2007
Bobby Robins scored twice as Elmira reeled off four unanswered goals to knock off the Texas Wildcatters 4-1 Saturday night before a crowd of 1,415 fans at Ford Arena in Beaumont, Texas. The win moved the Jackals to within two points of North Division co-leaders Reading and Cincinnati.
Ross Carlson got the home team on the board 5:08 into the game, but Robins pulled Elmira even at 10:59 when he banged a Shawn Weller centering feed past Wildcatters netminder Peter Aubry (26 saves) to tie the game at 1-1 at the first intermission break.
That goal came on the heels of a four-minute penalty kill brought about by a high-sticking double minor to Joe Grimaldi. Upon Grimaldis return, the Jackals took just 19 seconds to get the equalizer.
Elmira pulled ahead to stay working a power play of their own early in the second period with Robins again the trigger man.
Brett Pilkington fed a back door pass from the bottom of the left circle to Robins standing in the far circle. Robins ripped home his second of the night and fifth of the year for a 2-1 advantage at 6:56 of the middle period.
It was just the tenth power play goal against Texas this season, who entered the night with the fourth best penalty killing unit in the league.
The visitors increased their lead to 3-1 with 9:13 left in the second as Luke Fulghum picked up Dan Boesers rebound and fired home his fourth goal of the season into an open net.
The Jackals closed out the scoring and sealed their seventh win when Pierre-Luc Faubert struck on a partial breakaway with 6:57 left in the game. Faubert beat Aubry high on the glove hand side for his fifth goal of the season with a rising wrister that Aubry had no chance on.
Elmira weathered a late penalty surge that saw them play shorthanded for the final 2:34 of the contest, including a two-skater disadvantage for 52 seconds during that span.
Dan LaCosta made 30 saves for the Jackals in picking up his first win the year and his first ECHL victory since February 18, 2007, as member of the Dayton Bombers.
The Jackals were out shot for an eighth consecutive game 31-30 and went 1-for-5 on the power play while holding the Wildcatters scoreless in six chances.
The win improved Elmiras record to 7-5-0-1 (15 points), two points out of first in the North Division and two points up on a trio of clubs tied for fourth (Wheeling, Dayton, and Johnstown).
The Jackals and Wildcatters play the rubber match of their three-game set Sunday at Ford Arena in a 5:05 p.m. face-off. The Hill Top Inn Countdown to Face-Off kicks off broadcast coverage on MAGIC FM (92.7/97.7) beginning at 4:35 p.m.