News release
25 February 2005
Danbury, CT The Danbury Trashers got a third period tie-breaking goal from Russell Spence en route to a 4-2 win over the Elmira Jackals Friday night at the Danbury Ice Arena.
The Trashers jumped out to an early lead in the first period as they got a power play goal from NHLer Michael Rupp. Rupp used his speed to burst into the zone down the left wing and turn the corner on a Jackals defenseman before firing a wrist shot that sizzled past goaltender Kevin Kurk at 3:17. However, Elmira struck back with a power play goal of their own. Dean Jackals used brute force to simply drive a slap shot from the right wing face off circle through the Trashers goalie Ryan McIntosh and into the net at 4:55, assisted by Eddy Lowe and Trevor Burgess.
In the second period Elmiras strategy to smother the ice and grind down the pace of the game was working. With injuries to Jamie Thompson, Chris Shaw and George Pujacs and AHL call-ups to Derek Campbell (Binghamton) and Darren Van Oene (Manchester) the Jackals made the trip to Connecticut with only 15 players on the bus. The team met C/LW Chris Seifert at the Danbury Ice Arena and signed him prior to game time to help the depleted squad. But four and a half minutes into the second period John Morlang caught Elmira napping and got behind the defensive neutral zone trap. Morlang swooped in all alone on Kurk from the left wing and snuck the puck between the goaltenders pads, right along the ice for a 2-1 Danbury lead. Elmira would continue to battle and was again rewarded with an equalizer. On just their second power play of the night the Jackals again took care of business as Jason Sessa collected the puck in the high slot, just inside the offensive blue line, turned and blasted a low slap shot that beat McIntosh at 17:53, assisted by Corey Foster to tie the game 2-2 after two.
It was a back and forth kind of third period. Bryan Cummings surprised the Danbury defense by stepping in from the point and weaving two players before beating McIntosh, only to see his puck ring harmlessly off the goal post. The Jackals played stingy defense, holding back the high-powered Danbury offense. It came as no surprise that the eventual game winning goal wasnt exactly highlight reel material. In a rare defensive lapse during this game, Russell Spence was left all along on the near post halfway through the third period. After Kurk kept out a blistering shot from Michael Rupp, the rebound came right to the unmarked Spence, who simply slid the puck in the wide-open net at 12:19 for a 3-2 lead. Elmira kept battling and after several great chances to tie the game, pulled Kurk in the final minute of the game for the extra attacker. After a Sessa pass was just behind a wide-open Tom Clayton in the slot, Alex Goupil skated the other way and easily scored on the empty net to ice the game.
Ryan McIntosh earned the win, stopping 18-of-20 in the game. Rookie Kevin Kurk shined in goal for the Jackals, once again giving Elmira a chance to win by making 36 saves on 39 shots.
The Jackals will look for revenge Saturday night at 7:00 pm as they play round two with the Trashers at the Danbury Ice Arena. Elmira is back at the First Arena Friday March 4th for a 7:30 pm face off with the Fort Wayne Komets.