News release
3 April 2005
Fraser, MI The Motor City Mechanics beat the Elmira Jackals for the third consecutive time with a 6-1 victory at Great Lakes Arena Sunday night.
Motor City kicked up the offense early in the first period. Jared Ross opened the scored at 1:40 from Chris Chelios and Sean Avery. Rick Smith scored his third goal in the last two games against Elmira 9:45 and then Ross scored his second of the period at 15:39 to make it 3-0 Mechanics. Motor City out-shot Elmira 22-6 in the opening period, partly due to the Mechanics having the only two power plays of the period.
In the second period Brian Smolinski struck quickly to make it 4-0, when he scored at 2:19. Elmira struck back halfway through the period when Trevor Burgess intercepted a pass from Chelios at the blue line, slipped around a defender and snapped a wrist shot past Rod Branch at 11:06 for an unassisted goal.
In the third period Motor City once again continued the trend of scoring quickly as they increased their lead to 5-1 just 1:40 into the final period the goal credited to Chris Gignac. Late in the period Chris Shaw dismantled Jason Reimers in one of Shaws best fights of the season, adding a little excitement down the stretch. But Motor City got the last laugh when Joe Burton blasted a slap shot past Hewitt to make it 6-1 with less than a minute remaining in the game.
Rod Branch got the win in goal for Motor City stopping 22-of-23, while Greg Hewitt made 47 saves on 53 shots in goal for Elmira.
The Jackals next game is at home on Friday April 8th, as they host the Adirondack Frostbite at 7:30 pm at the First Arena.