News release
24 February 2006
St. Charles, MO Konstantin Kalmikov scored two goals and added a shootout goal as he led the Elmira Jackals to a 6-5 shootout victory over the Missouri River Otters Friday night at the Family Arena.
Missouri came out of the gate gunning for the team that beat them 4-3 on January 21st at the First Arena, and they cashed in when Blake Stewart scored a short-handed goal at 5:15. But Elmira came storming back as they regained control in the period.
Trevor Burgess snapped home a power play goal from the blue line, assisted by Sam Paolini and Chris Chaput at 10:41 tying the game. After the media timeout Burgess went right back to work. He sent a long pass from his own zone, finding a streaking Kevin Cooper at the Missouri blue line. Cooper slipped right between the Otters defense and tucked a backhand shot between goaltender Kevin Reiters legs for a 2-1 Elmira lead at 11:13, Burgess and Mathieu Wathier assisted on the play.
The Jackals wasted little time adding to their lead once the intermission was over. Konstantin Kalmikov made it 3-1 Elmira just 31 seconds into the second period, assisted by Todd Grant. But Missouri refused to simply roll over and unleashed a three-goal run in the next four minutes. The River Otters cut the lead to one goal 42 seconds later when former Jackal Paul Falco converted on a breakaway at 1:13 for a 2-2 tie. Jim Duhart gave Missouri tied the game at three by knocking home a rebound for an unassisted power play goal at 4:00. Mark Odut followed 63 seconds later to give the Otters the lead again, scoring at 5:03 for a 4-3 advantage that held up through the rest of the 2nd period.
Elmira battled back, trying to find the tying goal, but Reiter made some stunning saves as he held the Jackals at bay for most of the final 40 minutes. Chris Chaput finally broke through Reiters armor as he scored to tie the game at four assisted by Cooper and Paolini at 17:36 of the third period. Kalmikov then moved in for the kill. He scored his second goal of the night, picking up his own rebound and beating a scrambling Reiter for a 5-4 Elmira lead at 18:06 assisted by Jason Sessa. But Missouri had one more trick left in their bag. Jim Duhart made Elmira pay for a turnover in their own zone and the Otters captain scored his second unassisted goal of the game at 18:52, tying the game at five and sending the festivities to a shootout.
Again it was Kalmikov leading the way for the visitors. The Kharkov, Ukraine native snapped a wrist shot past Reiter in the 2nd round of the shootout for a 1-0 Elmira lead. J.P. Beilsten drew Missouri level in round 3, but then gave the Jackals the win as he converted his 5th round shot for a 2-1 win.
Jackals goaltender Nick Boucher stopped 27-of-32 shots in regulation and 4-of-5 in the shootout for his 9th win of the season. Kevin Reiter stopped 34 saves on 39 Elmira shots in the loss for Missouri. Elmira was 1-for-7 on the power play in the game, while Missouri went 1-for-6.
The Jackals and Otters will battle again Saturday night at 8:00 pm EST at the Family Arena in St. Charles. Elmira will return home on Friday March 3rd as they host the defending Colonial Cup Champion Muskegon Fury at 7:05 pm.