Jackals Silence Thunder, 5-1

ELMIRA, NY - The Elmira Jackals snapped their three-game skid tonight with a 5-1 victory in their first ever meeting against the Wichita Thunder.
It did not take long for the Jackals to get on the board once the puck was dropped. Jackals captain Matt Tassone knuckleballed a one-timer that fooled Thunder netminder Tyler Bunz just 59 seconds into the game. Mike Seidel and Nick Tuzzolino added the assists on Tassone's eighth of the year.

The Jackals came out surging in the second period and scored again within the period's first minute. Steven Shamanski buried his fifth of the season just 44 seconds into the middle frame with Justin Daniels earning the lone assist. Todd Hosmer cut the Jackals' lead to one at 10:43 of the second period with a power-play goal assisted by Dan Milan and Erick Lizon. But, the Jackals would answer quickly and regain their two-goal lead courtesy of Mike Seidel at 13:42 of the middle frame. Zach Tolkinen played the puck up the wall and found Seidel streaming down the left wing side for a breakaway tally.

Thomas Nesbitt kept the Jackals' motor moving in the third period and added their fourth goal on the power-play at 8:54 of the period. Kevin Hart and Kellan Tochkin assisted Nesbitt's fourth of the year. Daniels added his first goal as a Jackal this season at 12:16 when he redirected Tolkinen's point shot to put Elmira up 5-1. Nesbitt also added an assist on Daniels' marker. With the game out of reach, the Thunder began to pick up the jawing and post-whistle play. Eventually, tempers flared at 13:10 of the third period and the First Arena fans witnessed a line brawl, which was reminiscent of the UHL days. Even the goalies wanted to get into the action as each skater paired off with a dance partner. Travis Fullerton skated down to challenge Tyler Bunz who got involved with the fighting that was already occurring and the two goalies met at center ice but the linesmen sprinted in to break it up. When the game ended there were 188 combined penalty minutes, 10 fighting majors, seven game misconducts and four misconducts.

Fullerton stopped 23 of 24 shots faced for the win and Sam Marotta stopped all four shots he faced in relief duty. Bunz stopped 16 of 21 shots and was handed the loss. Tim Boron stopped the one shot he faced after Bunz was sent off.