Elmira hands loss to Walleye

3/10/2012

ELMIRA, N.Y. — The Elmira Jackals showed the Toledo Walleye what a top-tier ECHL playoff team looks like Saturday night.

Peppering Toledo goalie Alec Richards all night while holding the Walleye to a season low in shots, Elmira came away with a 5-1 win.

"This is one of the best teams we have seen all year," said coach Nick Vitucci. "I thought we worked very hard tonight and certainly could have come out of here with a win."

The loss is the third straight for the Walleye (26-28-6), but the first defeat of the last three games in regulation.

Elmira scored two goals in the first period and two more in the second to build a 4-1 lead before adding one more in the third as the Jackals outshot Toledo 33-16.

The Jackals grabbed the early lead six minutes into the first period but Toledo tied the game when Kris Belan scored his first professional goal less than two minutes later.

Derek Brochu was credited with the assist.

The Jackals (38-21-4) — currently the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs — scored another before the end of the first to lead 2-1.

The Jackals extended the lead with a pair of goals in the second period.

Toledo had a couple of really good chances but could not solve Elmira goaltender Brian Stewart (15 saves) for the rest of the contest.

Toledo's Mike Thomas and Todd Griffith each collected fighting majors with scraps late in the third period.

Richards finished with 28 saves.