News release
28 February 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012The Elmira Jackals (33-20-2-2) won four of five games this past week, taking a one-point lead over the Wheeling Nailers for first place in the Atlantic Division into the 21st week of the 2011-2012 campaign. The Jackals host the Nailers this Wednesday at First Arena before playing a three-in-three against the Reading Royals this Friday through Sunday.
The Jackals would win three-straight games to start the week when trailing by two goals and when facing a deficit entering the third period, and that streak would begin last Monday in Reading. Elmira fell behind 2-0, faced a late 3-1 deficit, and then stormed back with two late goals, including the tying goal from Jordan Pietrus with 53 seconds to go, to force overtime. After a scoreless sudden-death period, Kyle Reeds scored the lone goal in an eight-round shootout while Timo Pielmeier denied the Royals on all eight opportunities, as the Jackals earned a 4-3 victory. The shootout victory was Elmira's ninth of the season.
The Jackals met the Road Warriors for the first time since the 2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs on Wednesday at First Arena. Elmira trailed 2-0 after the first period but battled back for a 5-3 win. Rob Bellamy scored twice, including the tying goal with 6:03 left in regulation, making the score 3-3. Jordan Pietrus' power-play goal with 1:26 to go in the third period put Elmira in front for the first time, and Jean Bourbeau's empty netter sealed it, as the Jackals won their only meeting with the Road Warriors in 2011-2012.
After Dennis McCauley and Dale Mitchell connected for the Royals in the first period to take a 2-0 lead, Artem Demkov backhanded a puck in from the top of the crease in the second to bring the Jackals to within a goal, 2-1. Mario Larocque fired in a puck on the power play 34 seconds into the third period to even the contest, 2-2, while Craig Rivet buried the game winner at 7:28 of period three, lifting Elmira past Reading, 3-2.
Elmira once again battled back from a 2-0 deficit and it looked like the Jackals would pull off another comeback win when Dustin Gazley struck in the third period to give his club a 3-2 lead. Trenton would stage a comeback of its own, however, with Randy Rowe and Ray DiLauro both scoring late to give the Titans a 4-3 win. The victory was Trenton's third-straight against Elmira.
Artem Demkov registered his second multi-goal game of the season and first since Oct. 21, scoring Elmira's first two goals in a 3-1 victory over the Titans to close out the week. Jean Bourbeau secured his second empty-net goal of the week to put Trenton away late, while Timo Pielmeier set aside 22 of 23 shots.
Wednesday, Feb. 29 - Elmira vs. Wheeling, 7:05 p.m., First Arena
Friday, Mar. 2 - Elmira vs. Reading, 7:35 p.m., First Arena
Saturday, Mar. 3 - Elmira at Reading, 7:05 p.m., Sovereign Center
Sunday, Mar. 4 - Elmira vs. Reading, 4:05 p.m., First Arena
Elmira battles Wheeling for the division's top spot on Wednesday night before playing Reading three times to close out the week. The Jackals host the Royals on Friday and Sunday, with the two teams traveling to Reading for Saturday's contest. After Sunday's game, fans are invited to stick around and skate with their favorite Jackals on the First Arena ice. com.
LAROCQUE, RIVET TO DON SILVER SKATER JERSEYS, PIELMEIER NAMED GOLDEN GOALIE
Veteran defensemen Mario Larocque and Craig Rivet have been selected as the Jackals' two Silver Skaters while Timo Pielmeier has been named the team's Golden Goalie for this Friday's game against Reading at First Arena. Larocque and Rivet will wear special jerseys with a silver crest and event patch while Pielmeier will wear a golden jersey. Fans had the opportunity to vote on ECHL.com for one player on each ECHL member team's ballot to help select the Silver Skaters for each club. Each of the Silver Skater and Golden Goalie jerseys will be available for bid through The MeiGray Group beginning Mar. 12 and running through Mar. 29.
The Jackals finished off their busiest stretch of the 2011-2012 season on Sunday, closing out a run of 12 games over a span of 17 days. Elmira went 7-4-1-0 over the 12 contests. Wednesday's game marks Elmira's final one of February, a month in which the Jackals will have played 16 games. Elmira is 7-6-1-0 in February after starting out the month 0-2-1-1.
With 15 contests remaining in the regular season, the Jackals already have one recorded more victory than they collected in all of 2010-2011, currently posting 33 two-point nights this year. The Jackals will need to win eight of their final 15 games to tie their record in ECHL play of 41 victories, set in 2007-2008. Elmira is two wins away from equaling its mark in an ECHL season for home victories, with the Jackals currently at 19 First Arena wins with eight home contests remaining.
The Jackals are now two shootout victories shy of the league record in the overtime/shootout era of 11, set by the Lexington Men O' War in 2002-2003 and the Greenville Grrrowl in 2004-2005. The overall record for shootout wins in a season is 17, set by the Toledo Storm in 1995-1996 during the shootout-only era in the ECHL that spanned from 1995-2000. The Jackals are 9-2 in shootouts in 2011-2012.
GAZLEY NEARS SEASON'S LONGEST POINT STREAK
Dustin Gazley's point streak is now at 14 games, as the rookie is a point this Wednesday shy of equaling the longest such streak by any ECHL skater in 2011-2012. Gazley has registered eight goals and 13 assists during this stretch for 21 points. The longest point streak by any Jackal in an ECHL season is 17 games, set by Tyler Donati in his MVP season of 2009-2010. 22 to Mar. 5.
Of Elmira's 33 victories in 2011-2012, 21 have been of the comeback variety, including three this past week. The Jackals lead the league with 10 wins when trailing after two periods, three shy of the league record of 13 set by Toledo in 1995-1996. Elmira had posted four victories when down after two periods in each of its first four ECHL seasons. The Jackals have also not quit when down by two goals in a game this season, battling back for eight victories in that situation in 2011-2012.