Jackals fight off elimination with 6-3 win over Blades
Facing elimination, the Elmira Jackals responded with a 6-3 victory Saturday night over the Florida Everblades in the best-of-five first-round playoff series.
The Donati brothers led the way with Tyler Donati scoring a goal and two assists and brother Justin chipping in four assists. Chaz Johnson scored two goals as the Jackals converted three of seven opportunities on the power play in the Game 4 win to even the series at 2-2.
The power play was the key in the first period of the American Conference quarterfinals. Three of the four goals in the first period were scored on the extra-man opportunity. Elmira scored the game’s first goal for the first time in the series as Yannick Tifu picked up a rebound off a Justin Donati shot and slipped the puck in the open net for a 1-0 Jackal lead.
The Everblades responded on the power play on Shea Guthrie’s first tally of the post season. Guthrie stuffed home a rebound off a Matt Duffy point shot to tie the game at 1-1. Matthew Pistilli also figured into the scoring with an assist. The Blades took the lead a minute and a half later on an unassisted Pistilli tally, his second goal in as many nights.
Elmira evened the score on the third power play goal of the period and second for the Jackals. ECHL MVP and scoring champion Tyler Donati tipped in a shot from Wes Cunningham’s shot to even the score again.
The Jackals took the lead once again at 3-2 on Chaz Johnson’s goal at 13:27. Johnson got a great pass from Justin Donati and one-timed a blast past Beckford-Tseu from the left circle.
Florida came back to tie the game at 3-3 on a great outlet pass from Milan Gajic at center ice. Gajic beat everyone down ice into the Jackal zone and beat Holt high glove side.
Elmira recaptured the lead less than three minutes later on Matt Robinson’s first goal of the post season. The goal came with just two minutes left in the period to give Elmira the lead heading into the final 20 minutes of play.
- The Jackals extended their lead in the third period, outscoring Florida 2-0. Chaz Johnson picked up his second goal of the game and captain Olivier Proulx scored on the power play to finish off the scoring in the game.
The Everblades and Jackals play a decisive Game 5 Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m.