News release
31 March 2007
Rockford, IL Rookie goaltender Zach Sikich turned in a phenomenal performance as the Elmira Jackals snapped an 8-game losing streak, beating the Rockford IceHogs 3-2 in a shootout Saturday night at the Rockford MetroCentre.
There were plenty of intense moments in the first period, inspite of the lack of goals. The two teams combined for 80 minutes in penalties during the first twenty minutes, that saw Rockfords Paul Brown get 27 PIMs in one play and Elmiras Dan Veenema receive a game misconduct for coming to the aid of Scott Drevitch.
The offense finally opened up in the second period as Preston Mizzi scored his 29th goal of the season at 10:57, set up by goaltender Jake Moreland, whose lead pass found Mizzi at the red line and sent him free on a partial breakaway. But the Jackals answered right back 12 seconds later when Mike Oliveira slammed a one-timer past Moreland at 11:09, assisted by Yevgeny Lazarev. But Rockford countered back when Matt Gens scored at 12:01, putting the IceHogs back ahead 2-1.
In the third period, Bobby Kukulka tied the game for Elmira with a power play goal at 4:26, as he knocked in a rebound from a Frank Littlejohn shot; the assists went to Littlejohn and Erik Anderson. Both teams created scoring chances to win the game in regulation, but both Zach Sikich and Jake Moreland made great saves to send the game into a shootout.
In the extra session, both David Morelli and Mike Oliveira scored for Elmira and goaltender Zach Sikich put on a clinic as he stopped all four IceHogs attempts to earn a gutsy 3-2 win.
Sikich was stellar in goal for the Jackals as he made 35 saves on 37 shots in regulation and was a perfect 4-for-4 in the shootout to earn his first win in an Elmira uniform and 5th win of the season. Jake Moreland took the shootout loss for Rockford, blocking 25-of-27 shots in the game and 2-of-4 in the shootout. Elmira snapped an 8-game losing streak
The Jackals will return home as they prepare for their final week of the 2006-07 season. Elmira will be at the First Arena on Wednesday April 4th for a 7:05 pm face off with the Port Huron Flags.