News release
10 February 2012
Reading, Pa. - Yannick Tifu scored as time expired in overtime as the Reading Royals (21-20-3-3) defeated the Elmira Jackals (26-16-2-2), 3-2 at the Sovereign Center on Friday night. The loss extended Elmira's winless streak to seven games.
Jimmy Martin fired in a puck from the right circle with Elmira 13 seconds into its first power play, giving the Jackals a 1-0 advantage just 1:01 into the opening period.
The Royals opened the second period with two quick goals to take their first lead of the game. Matt Caruana tipped in a blue-line bid by Dave Cowan just 35 seconds in, while Zack McKelvie drove a puck past Brian Stewart through a screen at 1:03, as Reading took a 2-1 advantage.
The Jackals fought back to tie the game late in the second. Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel found Dustin Gazley cutting into the zone at center. Gazley split defensemen and then shot a puck in from the right circle, knotting the score, 2-2, at 15:39.
After a scoreless third period, the teams skated to overtime. The Royals drew a power play with 1:08 remaining in the extra session. Tifu buried a rebound off of a Stewart save with under a second left in sudden death to give Reading the win.
Stewart (15-8-1-0) turned aside 28 of 31 shots in the loss. Jussi Rynnas (4-2-0-0) made 36 saves on 38 Jackals' bids.
The Jackals and the Royals meet again on Saturday night at the Sovereign Center at 7:05 p.m. The Jackals return home to host Wheeling on Feb. 14 at First Arena. com.
Elmira's seven-game winless skid is its longest since joining the ECHL.Gazley's goal was his second in as many games. After winning its first 11 games following regulation to start the season, Elmira has fallen in its last two sudden-death contests and two shootouts