News release
7 April 2012
Elmira, N.Y. - Brian Stewart made 28 saves while Matt Campanale scored a tie-breaking goal in the third period on Saturday night at First Arena, as the Elmira Jackals blanked the Reading Royals in Game 4 of the best-of-five Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, 3-0. With their second-consecutive victory, the Jackals pushed the series to a fifth and deciding game, which will be played this Monday night in Elmira at 7:05 p.m.
The teams battled through a hard-fought, yet scoreless opening 40 minutes, with the Jackals outshooting the Royals, 17-15, through the first two periods.
Elmira broke through in the third, scoring the opening goal for the first time in the series. Artem Demkov stole a pass from Reading's Denny Urban and dropped the puck to Campanale in the right circle to set up the eventual game-winner. Campanale snapped the puck in past the stick of Mark Owuya, giving Elmira a 1-0 lead at 7:34.
The Royals threatened to tie the game with a strong shift in Elmira's end right after Campanale's tally but could not beat Stewart. Reading had a late power play as well, but could not convert.
With Owuya pulled, Rob Bellamy took a long feed from Craig Rivet and pushed the puck into the empty net at 19:19 of the final frame, extending the lead to 2-0. Mario Larocque put a shot from his end into the gaping goal at 19:47, as the Jackals prevailed, 3-0.
Stewart (2-1) earned his first-career postseason shutout and the third playoff victory of his career. Owuya (2-2) turned aside 25 shots in the loss.
Elmira became the 14th team in ECHL history to force a fifth game after trailing a best-of-five series, two games to none. Seven teams have won a best-of-five series in the league's history when dropping the first two contests. Stewart's shutout was Elmira's third in its Kelly Cup Playoff history. The Jackals have won consecutive playoff games for the first time since the third and fourth games of the 2009 North Division Semifinals. Campanale's goal was the first of his playoff career. Bellamy's empty netter was his second in as many nights. Elmira is 1-1 all-time in its ECHL history in deciding games, beating Trenton in Game 7 of the 2009 North Division Semifinals and falling to Florida in Game 5 of the 2010 American Conference Quarterfinals
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Game 5