News release
13 April 2013
Saturday, April 13, 2013ELMIRA, N.Y. - The Elmira Jackals excelled in all facets of the game in a 5-1 win over the Florida Everblades in Game 5 on Saturday night at First Arena. The win extended the best-of-seven quarterfinal series to a sixth game on Monday, April 15 in Estero, Florida.
The Jackals were persistently buzzing around the Florida net in the first period and that effort generated 13 shots for themselves and limited Florida to just four. Goalie Jesse Deckert did his best to keep Elmira at bay, but an odd man rush from the blue line allowed Elmira to break through. Chaz Johnson hit an open Louie Caporusso with a pass on the left wing and, with Deckert down, Caporusso lifted a shot over his right shoulder for a 1-0 Jackals lead. Matt Tassone also assisted on the goal with 7:49 gone by in the opening frame. Maxime Clermont made his second start of the series and stopped each of the four shots he faced in the period.
The teams nearly battled one another to a stalemate in the second period but, again, the lion's share of the scoring chances belonged to the Jackals. This time around the shot advantage read 15-7 Elmira. The Jackals' diligence paid off in spades over the final 2:39. With two 'Blades in the box, Johnson converted a one-timer from low on the left wing at 17:21 to give Elmira the 2-0 advantage. Elmira's remaining 5-on-4 power play was negated off of the ensuing faceoff, but Jordon Southorn scored on a feed from Caporusso just 22 seconds after Johnson's strike. The goal was Southorn's first in the playoffs as a pro. Not content with a three goal lead, Andrew Rowe gloved a clearing attempt by Deckert out of mid air at the blue line and rifled it home with 1.5 seconds remaining in the stanza.
Florida put its comeback effort into high gear in the third period and sent 17 shots Clermont's way. The second-year pro was at his best when his team needed him the most, and he stopped 16 shots to ensure Florida didn't entertain any real thoughts of a comeback. The lone goal was off of a rebound in front by A.J. Jenks with Florida on the power play at 12:45. Florida coach Greg Poss got ultra aggressive and pulled backup goalie Brady Hjelle on two different occasions in the third, but Rowe scored into an empty net with 4:17 left to play to salt away the win.
Clermont earned the first playoff victory of his career by stopping 27 of the 28 shots he faced. Elmira ended the night 1-for-5 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.