ELMIRA, NY – The Elmira Jackals took full advantage of playing on their home ice by dealing the Trenton Devils a 5-0 loss and taking a two games to one lead in their North Division semi final series with Game four scheduled for Thursday night at First Arena.
Despite being outshot 10-7 in the first period, the Jackals got on the board late in the session when Brandon Roach scored on a power play with just over a minute and a half to play. Trenton had two-man advantage chances in the first but was unable to capitalize either time. Two goals just fourteen seconds apart early in the second period would boost the Elmira lead to 3-0, With Brendan Connolly and Pierre-Luc Faubert being the Jackals goal scorers. A sign that it would not be Trenton’s night came late in the second period when Jackals goalie Michael Teslak made a huge glove save on the Devils Jeff Prough. The Jackals held a 13-11 shot advantage in the second period.
The third period would also belong to the Jackals as they would put their stamp on this game. A shorthanded tally from Steve Yetman was followed by Faubert’s second of the night with less than four minutes to play. Trenton’s penalty killing kept the score from being worse than 5-0 as the Devils killed off three man down chances during the third and took care of five of six Elmira power plays on the night. This was a small consolation for a team that had its offense firing on all cylinders in the first two games, only to be stopped cold by the solid goaltending of the Jackals Teslak, who made 32 saves en route to his first playoff shutout.
The Devils will look for a quick regroup in Game four, similar to what they did in Game two, as they look to even the series. A win for the Jackals would give them a commanding three games to one lead with game five on home ice.
Contact the author at tom.hoffman@prohockeynews.com
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