News release
21 February 2011
Reading, Pa. - The Elmira Jackals (22-23-6-1) dropped a 5-2 decision to the Reading Royals (34-13-2-3) on Sunday evening at the Sovereign Center. Elmira returns home this week for games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at First Arena.
The Royals came out firing to start the game, scoring on each of their first three power-play attempts.
Ben Gordon one-timed a feed from Ryan Cruthers past Jackals goaltender Garrett Zemlak at 3:20 of the first period to put Reading up 1-0.
Cruthers added to the lead with a shot that beat Zemlak from the left circle to make it 2-0 at 5:01 of the opening period, at which point Zemlak was pulled for netminder Marco Cousineau.
Olivier Labelle beat Cousineau five hole on a breakaway at the 13:15 mark to give Reading a 3-0 advantage after one period.
In the second period, a rebound off a Casey Haines shot that hit the post caromed to Chris Blight, with Blight driving it in from the right circle to add to Reading's lead, 4-0, at 6:59.
Yannick Tifu helped the Jackals climb back into the game with a pair of goals. Tifu batted a puck in off of a rebound from the end boards past Royals goaltender Matt Dalton at 8:37 of the second and then skated from the left circle to the net and beat Dalton stick side at 12:24 to bring Elmira to within two goals, 4-2.
Elmira outshot Reading 29-20 over the final two periods, but Dalton prevented the Jackals from getting any closer. Andrew Sarauer's empty netter sealed it at 18:32 of the third period, and the Royals won, 5-2.
Cousineau took the loss with 21 saves, falling to 13-11-4-0. Dalton won his third game of the weekend with 37 saves and was named the game's first star as his record improved to 14-6-1-0.