Jimmy Lodge was the hero on Wednesday night as the Jacksonville Icemen staved off a Solar Bear rally to win the game, 4-3, in overtime. This marked the second time these two teams went to overtime at Veterans Memorial Arena in the 2017-18 season presented by Community First Credit Union as the Bears bested the Icemen on Opening Night, 5-4.
When the Solar Bears are in town, you can count on defenseman Scott Savage to get on the scoresheet. After a successful penalty kill, Savage skated in from the blue line and hammered home a slapper past Mackenzie Skapski to put the Icemen up 1-0 at 8:44 into the first. A few minutes later, Christopher Dienes would slap a puck on its edge and Collier deflected the shot past Skapski to give Jacksonville a commanding 2-0 lead with 6:15 remaining in the opening frame. The goal is Collier's first-ever professional goal.
The Icemen carried the momentum into the second period. Just over two minutes into the period, Garet Hunt's shot sneaked past Skapski and found Jimmy Lodge on the back door for an easy tap-in goal. The celebration wouldn't last long as J.J. Piccinich beat goalie Colton Phinney 75 seconds later to make the game 3-1. Piccinich's goal is his third against Jacksonville this season, scoring one goal in each of the three meetings. Near the end of the second, J.C. Campagna scored off a nice pass from Martins Dzierkals. Jacksonville headed to the locker room with a 3-2 lead.
Orlando continued to push in the third period and would get a chance to tie the game on a four-minute power play. They didn't waste much time as Max Novak put home a rebound from the left circle to tie the game at three. Jacksonville ended up killing the second half of the double minor to set the stage for an intense clash in the final 11 minutes. Colton Phinney kept Jacksonville tied as the horn sounded on the the third period.
Jacksonville headed into overtime for the second time in franchise history. However, this time around, the Icemen would be victorious. At 3:33 into overtime, Jimmy Lodge sent a wrist shot past Skapski to give the Icemen the 4-3 win in front of the home fans.
Spend Black Friday with the Icemen as they take on division rival, Atlanta Gladiators, on Friday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available, click here to get yours!
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