Elmira takes a bite out of Cyclones 4-2

Oren Eizenman and Justin Donati each had a goal and two assists for the Elmira Jackals (4-1-2-0) en route to a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Cyclones (1-4-1-1) in front of 1,068 at U.S. Bank Arena on Tuesday night.

The Jackals jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Oren Eizenman buried his third goal of the season past Cyclones goalie Chet Pickard (L, 30 saves, 0-2-0) on the power play.  Just like last Saturday, though, Cincinnati was able to climb back when Mathieu Aubin found a loose puck underneath a swarm of players and pushed it past Elmira netminder Shane Connelly (W, 23 saves, 1-0-0) at 13:23.  Then, just 19 seconds later, Mike Bartlett wristed home a shot from between the circles to give the Cyclones a 2-1 lead through 20 minutes.  It was the first time this season that Jarrod Skalde’s bunch had the upper hand through one period of play.

Although both teams had plenty of scoring chances in the middle frame, only Elmira was able to find the net in the second period.  During a Jackals power play, Yannick Tifu jumped all over a Pickard rebound and stashed it for his third goal of the season, knotting things at two.  Just over four minutes later, at 18:45, Tifu grabbed a Cincinnati turnover at neutral ice and dished a pass to Kevin DeVergilio, who tipped it home for a 3-2 Jackals lead.  Little did they know it then, but it would turn out to be the game-winning tally.

Early in the third period, Scott Reynolds was whistled for a slashing call and Elmira’s power play went back to work.  Justin Donati danced by a couple of Cyclones defenders and slid the puck underneath Pickard for another goal on the man-advantage, making it 4-2 Jackals.  They would hold on to win by the same score.

Cincinnati was scoreless on the power play tonight despite four opportunities.  Elmira finished 3-for-6.