Today, the Jacksonville Icemen (3-10-1-0, 7 pts) travel to Duluth, Georgia, for the first time in the 2017-18 season presented by Community First Credit Union to take on the Atlanta Gladiators (9-6-1-1, 20 pts) at 2:05 p.m.
This is the third overall meeting between the two clubs and is the second straight. One thing is for certain, these two teams don't like each other at all. In the previous two meetings, both teams have combined for 107 penalty minutes, including four fighting majors. Fans can expect a physical matchup today as the Icemen look to avenge Friday's 2-1 loss.
What is more difficult to expect is whether the defenses will dominate or the offenses will ignite. In the first matchup, the Icemen set a franchise record for most goals combined in one game with 11. On Friday, Jacksonville tied its franchise record for fewest combined goals with three goals in the game. In all three of Jacksonville's wins, the Icemen have scored at least four goals.
Jimmy Lodge is bringing a two-game goal streak with him to Infinite Energy Arena today after notching the game-winning goal on Wednesday and the Icemen's lone goal on Friday. On the blue line, Dajon Mingo and Christopher Dienes have been able to get on the scoresheet the past two games.
Fans can catch all the action today on ECHL TV as the puck drops at 2:05 p.m. Also, don't miss out on the Icemen's three-game homestand next week, starting Tuesday as the Orlando Solar Bears return to Veterans Memorial Arena at 7:30 p.m. Click here to get your tickets!
Matchup Breakdown
Records:
Jacksonville Icemen: 3-10-1-0 (7th in South division)
Atlanta Gladiators: 9-6-1-1 (4th in South division)
Power Play:
Icemen: 3/57 – 5.3% (27th in ECHL)
Gladiators: 12/74 – 16.2% (14th in ECHL)
Penalty Kill:
Icemen: 58/68 – 85.3% (7th in ECHL)
Gladiators: 60/75 – 80.0% (21st in ECHL)
Players to Watch:
#14 F Jimmy Lodge (JAX)
4G, 5A – 9 Pts, +2 Rating
Currently, there’s no player on the roster that has as much momentum as Jimmy Lodge does right now. He’s scored three of his four goals this season in the past two games alone.
#19 F Alex Gacek (ATL)
6G, 7A – 13 Pts, -2 Rating
The forward scored the game-tying goal against the Icemen on Friday and now has three points against Jacksonville in two games.
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