Jackals Frozen By IceMen

ELMIRA, N.Y. - Powered by Alex Aleardi's three points (2 goals, 1 assist) the Evansville IceMen skated to a 7-2 victory over the Elmira Jackals on Saturday night at First Arena. The loss wrapped up Elmira's home portion of the 2013-14 schedule and dropped the Jackals' record to 23-38-8.          

Click here for tonight's box score.

Click here for tonight's postgame comments.

The Jackals looked to build off of the momentum of their big win over Orlando 24 hours ago and got off on the right foot when Troy Vance picked up his first professional goal in the first period. After a feeling-out period to start the game, in which the teams registered four shots in the first five minute, Vance joined up on the rush to put himself in scoring position. Rob Bellamy left a drop pass on the left wing and Vance skated into a one-timer that he whipped past Evansville's Mike Clemente at 7:43. Mike Vaskivuo started the play and picked up his team-leading 56th point with the secondary assist. Evansville used its league-leading power play to even the score at 13:49. Aleardi scored his first of the night by collecting a rebound along the goal line and lifting it over Elmira's Chris Driedger. Daultan Leveille followed just under three minutes later with his 21st goal of the season to put the IceMen in the driver's seat.

Elmira bounced back quickly in the second period and drew even with the IceMen. Kyle Bushee and Dane Walters worked the puck quickly on the rush to get the puck through center ice and onto the Evansville net. Walters' shot was padded away by Clemente but Corey Bellamy was in the perfect place to punch home his second goal of the season. It gave Bellamy three points in five games against Evansville this season. That was as close as the Jackals would get, though, because the IceMen popped in the next two goals to pull in front for good. Aleardi netted his second of the night three seconds after an Evansville power play ended then Matt Lowry scored on a shorthanded 2-on-1 to give the IceMen a two-goal cushion headed into the third.

Evansville quickly took the drama out of the third period when Peter Sakaris stole a breakout pass and converted an unassisted goal at 1:42. Josh Beaulieu followed with Evansville's second power play goal of the night just under five minutes later to build the lead up to four. Aleardi then finished off his scoring by setting up Dylan Clarke's rebound goal at 15:18.

Driedger started for the second straight game and stopped 27 of 34 shots. The Jackals ended the night 0-for-2 on the power play and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill.   

 

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