Jackals Upend Royals In Weekend Finale, 3-1

 READING, P.A. - The Elmira Jackals finished their first three-in-three weekend of the season with a 3-1 road victory at Santander Arena against the Reading Royals.

The Jackals came out flying from the drop of the puck and capitalized on their first scoring chance just 34 seconds into the game. Elmira controlled the puck off of the opening faceoff and quickly set up in the offensive zone. Brayden Irwin moved the puck from the wall to Zach Tolkinen at the point, who released a shot towards the net and Matt Tassone found the loose change in the slot. The Jackals captain buried the puck past Royals netminder Martin Ouellette for his first of the season. Lucas Bloodoff and Bryant Molle dropped the mitts on the ensuing faceoff continuing the tough play in this nasty rivalry. Seven minutes later Allan McPherson snapped a bouncing puck past Ouellette from the slot doubling the Jackals lead. Ryan Rashid and Irwin registered the assists on McPherson's fourth of the season. Travis Fullerton didn't face a shot until almost halfway through the first period. He turned aside all nine shots he faced in the opening 20 minutes.

After giving up three goals in the second period in each of the last three games the Jackals played lock-down defensively and stifled the Royals attack in the middle frame. Fullerton shut the door and stopped each of the 14 shots he faced in the second period and led the Jackals into the second intermission up 2-0.

Reading was able to cut the Jackals lead to one 12:20 into the third period when Mike Marcou blasted a slap shot past Fullerton on the power-play. Elmira rallied defensively and shut down the Royals comeback in the final 7:40. Consecutive Reading penalties put the Jackals on a five-on-three power-play in the final minute of regulation, ending the Royals chance of tying the game. In a desperate effort Reading pulled Ouellette, but Tassone was gifted a pass from Irwin and Taylor Stefishen and tapped in the empty netter for his second of the night.

Fullerton stopped 34 of 35 shots faced for the win and Ouellette stopped 27 of 29 shots faced but shouldered the loss. The Jackals finished 1-for-5 on the power-play and 7-for-8 on the penalty kill.