ELMIRA, N.Y. - October 19, 2012 - The Elmira Jackals claimed their third straight win at First Arena to open the season on Friday night by a final score of 4-2 over the Wheeling Nailers.

Click here for tonight's box score.

In a match up of Atlantic Division rivals Elmira grabbed the first goal of the game late in the first period courtesy of Artem Demkov. Dustin Gazley sent a centering pass to Demkov on the edge of the goal crease, and as he was knocked down by a defender Demkov flipped the puck past Wheeling's Patrick Killeen for his second goal of the season. Andrew Rowe nearly made it 2-0 on that line's next shift but a diving stick save by Killeen kept Wheeling within one. That was one of nine saves by Killeen in the period but Elmira's Nathan Lawson turned in 10 to let the Jackals skate into the intermission with the lead.

Wheeling didn't take long in the second to respond, though, as Bobby Farnham stole an outlet pass and lifted a wrist shot over Lawson's glove 27 seconds into the middle stanza. Despite more early pressure from the Nailers, Elmira held tight defensively and kept the game close. Then, in the late stages of the second, the offense came to life. Jimmy Martin banged home a rebound of a Kyle Bushee point shot with 2:14 left to push Elmira ahead by one again. Then Gazely followed up with a power play goal at 19:24 to extend the lead to 3-1. The goal gave Gazley three straight multi-point games to open the season. Behind 12 saves by Lawson in the period Elmira went into the third up two.

Jordon Southorn notched Elmira's second power play goal of the game 2:11 into the third to build the lead to its largest of the night at 4-1. Louie Caporusso and Jack Downing each assisted on the goal in their 2012-13 Jackals debut. That capped the scoring for Elmira and the lead was large enough to survive Wheeling's comeback attempt which was started by Tom Kuhnackl's first pro goal 3:19 after Southorn's marker. Wheeling earned a power play with 2:45 left in regulation and pulled Killeen for the extra attacker with half of the advantage remaining, but the Nailers could not beat Lawson again.

Lawson denied 32 shots in earning his first ECHL win since October 24, 2008 with the Utah Grizzlies. Elmira was 2-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.