News release
15 March 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013READING, Pa. - With the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs rapidly approaching, the Elmira Jackals are in Reading tonight for a tilt with the Royals that will go a long way toward deciding which team will win the Atlantic Division. The Jackals have won four of their last six against Reading but have dropped two straight.
WHO: Elmira Jackals - Ottawa/NHL & Binghamton/AHL (34-22-7) at Reading Royals - Washington/NHL and Hershey/AHL (40-18-6).
The Jackals are facing the Royals tonight for the 15th of 16 meetings and seventh of eight at Sovereign Center. The Jackals are 6-6-2 against Reading this season which includes a 2-3-1 mark on the road. The season series between the Jackals and Royals has been a tale of two halves. Over the first eight games the Royals held court and defeated the Jackals six times (Elmira's record = 2-4-2). That included four straight wins from November 14 to December 16. Elmira has turned the tables in the second half with a 4-2-0 record against Reading since January 21. Elmira has two more chances left to become the only ECHL team to win more than two games in Reading this season.
With three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Jackals won't be taking much time to study up on their opponents. Seven of their final nine games are against Atlantic Division opponents with Trenton (4) making up the bulk of the work while Reading (2) and Wheeling (1) bring up the rear. Elmira (19-13-3), Reading (21-13-6), and Wheeling (15-11-3) all have winning records against the division but Trenton (14-16-4) does not.