News release
13 April 2013
Saturday, April 13, 2013ELMIRA, N.Y. - The Elmira Jackals fight for their playoff lives tonight facing a three to one series deficit against the Florida Everblades. After Florida's Game 4 win last night the Jackals will have to win three straight to advance past the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
WHO: Elmira Jackals - Ottawa/NHL & Binghamton/AHL (40-25-7 regular season) vs. Florida Everblades - Carolina & Tampa Bay/NHL and Charlotte & Syracuse/AHL (39-22-11 regular season).
WHAT: Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Game 5. Florida leads series 3-1.
While the series pulled into Elmira tied at a game apiece, Florida has been able to snare control with back-to-back one goal wins. Each game has been a see-saw battle with the lead changing hands a combined five different times. The Jackals are looking for a way to close out games after taking the lead into the third period of Game 3 and Game 4 but coming up on the wrong end of the ledger. Elmira has also been outscored 5-2 in the first period, including a 2-1 mark last night. That's a contrast to the regular season when Elmira had a 72-51 scoring edge over its opponents. The 51 goals allowed were the second fewest of the league behind only Alaska (48).
Elmira had one of the most balanced attacks in the regular season when ten different players recorded at least 30 points. Although three skaters from that group did not finish the season with Elmira, overall the Jackals finished with the third most skaters with 30 or more points. Only Toledo (12), Idaho (11), and Stockton (11) had more. That balance has carried over into the playoffs where the Jackals' attack features five players averaging a point per game or better. The only other teams with that kind of balance are out west with Idaho and Ontario each with five skaters averaging a point per game.