Following yesterday's 6-3 loss to the Florida Everblades (11-2-0-1, 23 pts), the Jacksonville Icemen (2-7-1-0, 5 pts) look for better luck on the road in the 2017-18 season presented by Community First Credit Union in their first trip to Estero in franchise history.
Despite losing by three goals, the Icemen showed a lot of promise against the best team in the ECHL. Had the two power play goals not gone in for Florida, the game could've easily shifted either way. Staying out of the penalty box will be a major focus for Jacksonville tonight as the club enters the final game of a back-to-back for the third time this year. In the previous two occasions, the Icemen have only scored a combined two goals while allowing a combined eight goals. In all four games this season on the tail end of a back-to-back, the Blades are a perfect 4-0-0-0.
Emerson Clark is entering the game with a franchise record of eight consecutive games with at least one point. The first line of Goulet, Emerson Clark and Pearce have been special for the Icemen this season. Last night, the line combined for three points as each player was involved in Goulet's game-opening goal. Jacksonville will need help from the other three lines to win these high-scoring games.
Saturday's game marks only the second in 14 total matchups between the two clubs this season. Jacksonville will look to assert itself early in what will be a long rivalry with the Everblades.
The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. tonight from Germain Arena. Fans can tune in to watch tonight's game by clicking here or listen here.
Matchup Breakdown
Records:
Jacksonville Icemen: 2-7-1-0 (7th in South division)
Florida Everblades: 11-2-0-1 (1st in South division)
Power Play:
Icemen: 3/45 – 6.7% (27th in ECHL)
Everblades: 14/64 – 21.9% (4th in ECHL)
Penalty Kill:
Icemen: 47/55 – 85.5% (10th in ECHL)
Everblades: 62/73 – 84.9% (13th in ECHL)
Players to Watch:
#15 F Alexandre Goulet (JAX)
7G, 7A – 14 Pts, +2 Rating
Goulet has been stellar this year for the Icemen. He leads the team in goals (7) and points (7) and is one of three players to record a goal against the Everblades.
#11 F Michael Kirkpatrick (FLA)
6G, 11A – 17 Pts, +8 Rating
Kirkpatrick had himself a game versus the Icemen last night. The forward had a four-point game, including the game-winning goal.
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