Jackals Fall To Kalamazoo, 6-2

ELMIRA, N.Y. - One night after defeating the Kalamazoo Wings 6-2, the Elmira Jackals fell at First Arena by the same score. This match-up marked the final time these two teams will meet in Elmira this season.

Rookie forward Allan McPherson got the Jackals on the board early with a backdoor goal on the man advantage less than three minutes into the game. Brodie Reid picked up a blocked Nick Tuzzolino shot along the boards and weaved his way to the slot where McPherson was sitting alone waiting for the loose puck. That was McPherson's second goal in as many nights after he scored the Jackals' empty net goal last night. Kalamazoo forward Ludwig Blomstrand answered just over a minute later with a laser from the top of the circle. Blomstrand added his second of the night just after the halfway marker of the opening period. Alex Mallet netted his first of the year to give the Wings a 3-1 lead at the first intermission.

The second period provided the same story line as the first frame. Paul McIlveen buried his first of the season less than two minutes into the second period to cut the deficit to one. Brayden Irwin and Taylor Stefishen were awarded the assists on McIlveen's tally. However, that was as close as the Jackals would get throughout the night. Sacha Guimond, Dane Fox and Nathan Longpre each scored in the middle frame to extend Kalamazoo's lead to 6-2. Guimond's power-play goal came from the point as Ryan Rashid sat in the penalty box for poking Wings' goaltender Scott Munroe after the whistle. Dane Fox scored for the second straight night to extend the Wings' lead to three. Fox's tally also chased Jackals' starter Travis Fullerton from the net. Backup goalie Tony Capobianco entered the game in a tough situation and was immediately tested by Nathan Longpre. A defensive zone turnover by Elmira gave Longpre a breakaway from the top of the circle and he was able to score on the first shot that Capobianco faced.

The third period did not provide any scoring, but the chippy play and physicality picked up in the final 20 minutes. Elmira recorded 16 penalty minutes in the third period alone, including a 10-minute misconduct to Todd Orlando late in the game. Jackals starter Travis Fullerton allowed five goals in two-plus periods and Capobianco allowed just the one goal to Longpre. Fullerton was handed the loss and Kalamazoo netminder Scott Munroe earned the win.