The Elmira Jackals, the No. 1 seed in the ECHL's Eastern Conference, have been relieved of their playoff responsibilities -- the No. 5-seeded Florida Everblades beat Elmira 2-1 with two third-period goals tonight to wrap up that best-of-7 series in five games.

Florida won the last four games of the series.

The Everblades await the winner of the Kalamazoo-South Carolina series. South Carolina avoided elimination tonight with a 4-1, but still trails 3-1 in the series against the franchise the Alaska Aces beat for the Kelly Cup last season.

In the East, the No. 1 seed (Elmira), No. 2 seed (Gwinnett) and No. 4 seed (Greenville) are all toast in the first two rounds.

The only other game on the circuit tonight pits the Alaska Aces, who lead 2-1 in the series, at the Stockton Thunder. You are perhaps aware of that game.