Jackals Score Three In First; Defeat Reading 4-2

ELMIRA, NY - The Jackals jumped ahead 3-0 in the first period against the Reading Royals and cruised to a 4-2 victory over their East Division rival.

Mike Seidel and Taylor Stefishen made their returns to the Jackals' lineup tonight and provided an offensive boost right off the bat. Less than seven minutes into regulation, Seidel weaved into the offensive zone, slipped past a defender on the backhand and moved the puck to the forehand for a top-shelf shot past Royals' netminder Connor Knapp. Riley Wetmore and Andrew Conboy earned the assists on Seidel's eighth goal of the season. Just a mere 42 seconds later the Jackals would double their lead. Ryan Rashid continued his hot streak and buried for the third straight game with a redirect off of Taylor Stefishen's centering feed for his eighth goal of the year. Mitch Holmberg also added an assist on Rashid's marker. Andrew Conboy would increase the Jackals' lead to three at 12:25 of the first period with an unassisted short-handed tally. Andrew Johnston would get the Royals on the board at 15:53 of the opening frame, but the Jackals would carry a two-goal lead into the intermission.

Neither team would score in the second period, so the Jackals maintained their 3-1 lead going into the final frame. Travis Fullerton turned aside all 10 shots faced in the second period and 22 of 23 shots faced through the first 40 minutes of action.

Elmira would reestablish its three-goal lead at 8:14 of the third period with Steven Shamanski's ninth goal of the season. Keith Buehler chipped the puck out of the Jackals' end along the wall to Thomas Nesbitt, who was swinging through the zone. Nesbitt carried the puck down the left-wing side with speed and dished a backhand feed to Shamanski who deposited the puck past Joe Howe, who replaced Knapp in the first period, with a silky backhand move. Ryan Cruthers would score on the power-play at 16:31 of the third period to cut the Jackals' lead to two, but that would be as close as Reading would get to a comeback.

Fullerton finished the night with 36 saves, earning his 12th win of the season. Knapp allowed three goals on four shots and was handed the loss. Howe turned aside 13 of 14 shots faced.