Heading into the first road game in team history, the Icemen had their sights set on their first-ever win in Greenville Saturday night. However, for the fourth time in the 2017-18 season presented by Community First Credit Union, the Icemen fell by a one-goal margin, losing 5-4 to the Swamp Rabbits.
Greenville took advantage of a slashing penalty on Cameron Critchlow to put the Swamp Rabbits up 1-0 9:48 in the first. The power play goal was the first time the Icemen gave up the opening goal this season. Less than three minutes later, defenseman Christopher Dienes buried his first of the season with the helper from Collier to tie the game 1-1. Bobby MacIntyre made his presence known with a quick strike to give Jacksonville its first lead of the game at 14:23 in the first. For the first time this season, the Icemen head to the room with a lead at the end of the first period.
Bobby MacIntyre would not be denied in the second period as he tallied his second of the evening to give the away team a 3-1 lead. Shortly later, Austin McKay found the back of the net for his second of the season to pull the Swamp Rabbits within one. After a Garet Hunt slashing call, the Icemen were down a man. However, that wouldn't stop Alexandre Goulet from scoring. The rookie notched his fifth of the season to give the Icemen a two-goal lead once again, extending his goal streak to four games. The goal is also the first-ever shorthanded goal in Icemen history. The Swamp Rabbits got a goal back when Caleb Herbet struck with three minutes left in the second period.
Just 20 minutes away from the first-ever victory, the Icemen slowly watched their lead slip away. Forward Allan McPherson tied the game at 8:53 into the final frame. In an intense battle to pull ahead in the final minutes, the Icemen took a penalty and gave the Swamp Rabbits' second-best power play in the league a chance to win the game. With just under three minutes remaining, Carter Sandlak scored to delay the Icemen's hopes for a first win to Sunday.
Jacksonville heads to North Charleston to take on the South Carolina Stingrays on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 3:05 p.m. Catch all the action on ECHL.TV.
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