News release
12 November 2011
Reading, Pa. - The Elmira Jackals overcame two one-goal deficits and received a late game-winning goal from Maxime Gratchev on Saturday night at the Sovereign Center, earning their first road win of the season, 4-2, over the Reading Royals.
Olivier Labelle tipped Denny Urban's shot from the blue line past Elmira goaltender Brian Stewart for his ninth goal of the season, as the Royals scored on the power play to take a 1-0 lead at 5:20 of the opening session.
After an incredible stick save by Stewart, who denied Ryan Cruthers on the doorstep, the Jackals tied the game when Jordan Lane redirected a Kyle Reeds feed into the net to even the score, 1-1, at 9:43 of the second period.
Matt Schepke came right back down the other end, putting Reading back in front 40 seconds later, 2-1, with a wrist shot that beat Stewart through a screen.
Evan Barlow lifted a rebound from a Craig Rivet shot just under the cross bar on the doorstep to tie the game back up, 2-2, at 11:02.
Elmira killed off two penalties in the third period, and then took advantage of one of its first scoring chances of the final frame to take the lead. Dustin Gazley started a rush after stealing a puck at center ice. After his shot from the right circle was stopped by St. Laurent, Gratchev backhanded in a puck from the slot to put the Jackals in front for the first time in the game, 3-2, at 13:40.
With St. Laurent pulled late, Riley Armstrong finished off the comeback by sending a puck from center ice into the empty net with 11.3 seconds left to extend Elmira's lead to 4-2.
Stewart improved to 3-1-0-0 with a 25 save outing. St. Laurent dropped to 2-3-0-0, making 28 saves on 31 shots.
Elmira and Reading play the final contest of a three-in-three on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. in Reading.