Yellow Jackets vs. Lightning, Febuary 7th, 2007 Lightning Zap Jacket Lead The Lightning are never an easy opponent, but they are a team that the Jackets have been able to dominate on the scoreboard. That was not the case last night. The ice was so choppy, they had to recut the ice, but smooth ice did not mean smooth game play for the first from either team. The Jackets were able to score, dispite the choppy play, with James Browne scoring on a rebound, with assists going to Murat Shikhris and Neil Skorka. In the second, the Jackets gave back their lead early on, but were handed a golden opportunity when two Lightning players got called for hooking on the same play, giving the Jackets a full 2 minute 2 man advantage. The Jackets used their timeout, regrouped and Frank Peronne took a George Reminnik pass into the Lightning zone and blasted it past the Lightning netminder to give the Jackets back their lead. Murat Shikhris was also able to score in the final moments, finishing off a nice passing play by Marc Desomma and Mike Heller by wristing one into the Lightning net. Giving the Jackets a two goal lead heading into the third. Fast forward to 7 minutes into the third, where a Jacket turnover led to a breakdown in front of the Jacket net, where a shot was put past Matt Rovetto, who had another strong game, stopping 36 shots. With 4 minutes to play, the Jackets, still intent on adding to their lead, got caught up ice again, giving up a breakaway. Captain, Allan LaRobardier caught the Lightning player and hooked his stick to twart the shot attempt, but was called with a hooking penalty for "hooking an opponents stick" and a Lightning powerplay ensued. The Lightning scored a minute into the advantage, tying the game. With two minutes remaining, LaRobardier took a roughing penalty, putting the team shorthanded again, but the Jackets held on to the score, knotting the contest at 3 a side. Letting a point slip away for the third time this season.

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