News release
8 April 2006
Glens Falls, NY Jarrett Konkle scored two goals, tying a franchise record, but the Elmira Jackals dropped a heartbreaker 6-5 to the Adirondack Frostbite Saturday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Frostbite defenseman Bob Rapoza put Adirondack in front just 28 seconds with a wrist shot from the point. Jason Cassells scored his first goal since rejoining the team from Richmond, tying the game 1-1 at 11:29, assisted by Trevor Burgess and Sam Paolini. Ryan Bennett scored a power play goal at 14:36 for a 2-1 Frostbite lead. But Paolini would tie the game with a power play goal of his own, assisted by Flo Iberer and Jason Sessa at 17:10. Though the score was tied at two, Adirondack out-shot the Jackals 14-9 in the opening period.
Jarrett Konkle put on a record-tying display to start the second period. Konkle scored at 3:12 of the second, putting the Jackals on top 3-2, assisted by Burgess and Konstantin Kalmikov. Just 1:58 later, Konkle stole the puck on a Frostbite power play, skated down the right wing and ripped a wrist shot past goalie Kris Tebbs at 5:10 for an unassisted, short-handed goal and a 4-2 lead. The goal was Konkles 36th goal of the season, tying Glenn Stewart for the Jackals franchise record for goals scored in a single season. But Adirondacks Sylvain Cloutier was not going to let Konkle have all the fun. Cloutier answered with two straight goals, one at 9:40 and the second at 14:19, to level the scored at 4-4 after two periods of play. The Jackals rebounded in the second, out-shooting the Frostbite 12-8.
Elmira again pulled in front at 8:50 of the third period when Kevin Coopers shot deflected off Adirondack defenseman J.F. Picard and into the net for a 5-4 Elmira lead. The lead lasted 28 seconds until Mark Hurtubise tied the game at five at 9:18. Late in the game the Frostbite earned their 7th power play with 3:25 remaining and they would not disappoint the home crowd. Mike Berry turned in his own rebound for a power play goal at 17:20 and a 6-5 lead. The Jackals got a power play shortly afterwards, but they could not find the equalizer. Elmira out-shot the Frostbite 17-to-7 in the final period, but finished one goal short.
Kris Tebbs earned the win in goal for the Frostbite, making 33 saves on 38 shots; while Jackals goaltender Matt Meacham stopped 23-of-29 shots in goal for Elmira. Adirondack was 2-for-7 on the power play. Elmira was 1-for-7 with the man advantage.
The Jackasl return to Elmira to face off with the Richmond Riverdogs at 4:05 pm Sunday afternoon at the First Arena to close out the weekend. Next weekend the Jackals will finish the 2005-06 regular season with a home-and-home series with Adirondack.