Jackals Weekly Release 2/9-2/15

ELMIRA, N.Y.  - The Elmira Jackals, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres and AHL's Rochester Americans, returned to First Arena following their six-game road trip and swept their three-game home stand before dropping the weekend finale in Wheeling.

Last Week's Record: 3-1-0
Overall Record: 26-18-5; third place in East Division, fifth place in Eastern Conference

Leaders:
Goals: Mike Seidel (15)
Assists: Justin Daniels (19)
Points: Steven Shamanski (28)
+/-: Matt Tassone (+15)
PIMs: Justin Sawyer (122)
PPG: Steven Shamanski (5)
SHG: Matt Tassone, Taylor Stefishen, Ryan Rashid, Mike Seidel & Zach Tolkinen (1)
Wins: Travis Fullerton (15)
GAA: Travis Fullerton (2.47)
SVP: Travis Fullerton (.916)

Previewing the Upcoming Week:

2/14 vs. Reading Royals - 7:05 p.m. EST
Home vs. REA 2-1-2, Away vs. REA 3-3-0
Tonight the Jackals host the red-hot Reading Royals for the 12th of 15 meetings this season and the sixth of seven at First Arena. The Jackals are 5-4-2 against the rival Royals this season, giving Reading a one-game advantage in the DeMets Candy Turtle Cup Challenge. The last time these two teams met was the final contest of a three-game mini series on Monday, January 19th. The Jackals traveled to Santander Arena for the Monday matinee affair, but were bested by the Royals 4-2. The most recent meeting at First Arena came two days before and Thomas Nesbitt, Mitch Holmberg and Mike Seidel scored in the second period, but the Jackals allowed two third period tallies and fell 4-3 in the shootout. The previous night the Jackals jumped ahead of the Royals 3-0 in the first period with goals coming from Mike Seidel, Ryan Rashid and Andrew Conboy. Steven Shamanski added his ninth goal of the season to cushion the Jackals lead in the third period. Travis Fullerton made 36 saves to earn his 12th win of the season as the Jackals cruised to a 4-2 win. Elmira's all-time record against Reading is 49-47-12.

Recapping Last Week:

2/4 vs. Florida Everblades: W 6-5

Mike Seidel and Thomas Nesbitt each notched two goals and Lucas Bloodoff scored the overtime game-winner in a wild 6-5 come-from-behind win against the Florida Everblades. The Everblades got on the board first with Matt Marquardt's wrap-around goal at 3:13 of the opening frame. Just over two minutes later Riley Wetmore tied the game with a blast from the right circle that went top-shelf over the shoulder of Andy Iles. Florida would regain the lead at 12:17 of the first period when Mike Aviani recorded his eighth of the season on the power-play. In the second period, the Everblades would increase their lead to 3-1 when Patrick McEachen jammed home his first of the season at 2:40 of the middle frame. Florida would add to its lead at 7:01 of the second period when Adam Brace benefited from a loose puck that popped out in front for his 19th goal of the season. Jackals netminder Chris Rawlings was pulled following Brace's goal and Nick Niedert entered the game in net for the Jackals. Mike Seidel began the Jackals comeback effort at 10:14 of the second period when he batted a puck out of mid-air and past Iles to cut the Jackals deficit to two. The Jackals carried a power-play into the third period and Thomas Nesbitt buried his ninth goal of the season just 1:35 into the final regulation frame. Nesbitt wasn't done yet, as he would tie the game at 12:53 of the third period with his second goal of the night and 10th goal of the season. The Jackals looked to complete the comeback at 18:51 of the period when Mike Seidel bounced his second goal of the night off of a Florida defenseman. However, just 21 seconds later Burt would tie the game with his fifth goal of the season. In the overtime frame, Lucas Bloodoff would prove to be the game's hero with his sixth goal of the season at 2:10 of the extra period. Niedert turned aside 16 of 17 shots faced and earned the win.

2/6 vs. Cincinnati Cyclones: W 4-1
The Jackals scored four unanswered goals and powered past the Cyclones, 4-1, in an emotional, penalty-filled contest at First Arena. The Cyclones struck first when David Pacan redirected Michael Quinn's point shot past Travis Fullerton at 3:12 of the opening frame. The Jackals would quickly even the score in the second period with Taylor Stefishen's ninth goal of the season. Stefishen muscled his way down the left wing side, turned to the forehand and wristed the tying goal past Rob Madore at 1:51 of the middle frame. The Jackals would build on their momentum and take the lead at 10:37 of the period with Justin Kea's fifth goal of the season. Mitch Holmberg and Lucas Bloodoff added the assists on Kea's go-head marker. Off of the ensuing faceoff Justin Sawyer and Jaynen Rissling dropped the gloves at center ice and excited the crowd. The Jackals carried their 2-1 lead into the final frame of regulation and added to it at 15:28 when Riley Wetmore blasted a slapshot past Madore for his fourth goal of the season. Lucas Bloodoff earned the lone assist. Just 13 seconds later Mike Seidel would intercept a wrap up the boards by Madore and beat him from the wall for his 14th goal of the season. As the Jackals cruised towards victory with the final buzzer sounding, mayhem ensued with gloves, sticks and helmets littering the ice. The two teams combined for 144 penalty minutes, 10 fighting majors and six misconducts. Fullerton turned aside 30 of 31 shots faced for his 15th win of the season.

2/7 vs. Toledo Walleye: W 3-2
Travis Fullerton made 38 saves to lead the Jackals past the Toledo Walleye, 3-2. The Jackals allowed the first goal in each of their last six games entering tonight's contest, but Taylor Stefishen would get the pesky pack on the board first at 16:24 of the opening frame. The rookie from North Vancouver, British Columbia ripped a wrist-shot past Jeff Lerg for his 10th goal of the season and second goal in as many days. Colin Jacobs and Mike Bergin earned the assists on Stefishen's opening marker. Elmira carried its 1-0 lead into the second period, but Martin Frk would quickly tie the game 1-1 with a power-play goal just 25 seconds into the frame. Frk's 18th of the year, assisted by Shane Berschbach and Shane Sims, whistled through the legs of Zach Tolkinen and past Travis Fullerton. Mike Bergin would answer just over three minutes later and regain the lead for the Jackals. Lerg allowed a juicy rebound off of Taylor Stefishen's shot and Bergin drove to the slot to deposit the loose change for his second goal of the season. Thomas Nesbitt would extend the Jackals lead less than four minutes later with a put-back past Lerg off of Keith Buehler's blast from the left circle. Ryan Rashid also added an assist on Nesbitt's 11th goal of the season. Justin Mercier would cut the Jackals lead back down to one at 12:03 of the second period with his 18th goal of the season. In the third period, the Jackals withstood Toledo's attack and suppressed the Walleye's offensive push in the final 20 minutes of regulation. Elmira was out-shot 14-6 in the third period, but Fullerton was up to the task each time and shut down Toledo's comeback bid. Fullerton turned aside 38 of 40 shots faced and earned his 16th win the season.

2/8 at Wheeling Nailers: L 1-3

Elmira entered WesBanco Arena with a three-game winning streak, but it came to an end in the weekend finale, which was the fourth game in five days for the Jackals. Josh Archibald, who has spent the majority of his rookie season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, opened the scoring at 8:00 of the first period. David Gilbert pushed the puck towards the net front and Archibald was waiting for the loose puck in the slot. Late in the first period, tempers began to flair between the two rivals and resulted in Justin Kea bundling Clark Seymour with rights, sending the Nailer down to the ice in a heap with a cut over his eye. In the second period, the resilient Jackals battled back to tie the game at 15:14 of the frame. Thomas Nesbitt moved the puck to Ryan Rashid, who's shot popped off the pad of Eric Hartzell onto the awaiting stick of Mike Seidel for his team-leading 15th goal of the season. The game appeared to be heading to the third period tied 1-1, but with 1.7 seconds left on the clock Derek Army fired a shot from the goal-line that deflected off of Sam Marotta and in for his team-leading 19th goal of the season. As the final frame of regulation began, the Nailers looked to build upon their momentum from Army's late second period tally. At 6:20 of the period Archibald picked the puck up in the neutral zone and wheeled from Wheeling's blueline across center ice and snapped a quick wrist shot past Marotta for his second goal of the night. As the third period progressed the frustration reached a boiling point and Justin Sawyer dropped the mitts with Pat McGrath after crushing Archibald along the wall. Seconds later, Archibald pushed Mike Bergin into Marotta and another scrum ensued, which resulted in a penalty to Archibald and misconducts to Colin Jacobs and Zack Torquato. Marotta stopped 30 of 33 shots faced but was handed the loss.

Quick Hits:

* The Jackals have a current six-game point streak at home.

* Elmira is the only team that has not allowed a shorthanded goal.
 

* Elmira is 24-1-2 when scoring three or more goals.

* Sam Marotta leads all rookie goaltenders with a 2.52 goals-against-average and ranks second with a .913 save percentage.

* Elmira is 18-4-3 when scoring first.

* Elmira is 17-0-2 when leading after two periods.
 

* Elmira leads the league with 1,062 penalty minutes.