For the fifth time in the 2017-18 season presented by Community First Credit Union, the Jacksonville Icemen (7-15-2-2, 18 pts) and the Orlando Solar Bears (11-14-4-1, 27 pts) meet Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in Orlando.
These two teams have a history of physical, competitive games in the young season. Orlando is 2-1-1-0 against Jacksonville this season, and the Solar Bears have won the only meeting thus far at the Amway Center, 4-1, on Nov. 21. However, Jacksonville has won the last two meetings against Orlando.
The Icemen are coming into this game playing their best hockey. Jacksonville rallied in the third period when trailing after two periods for the first time in history against the Atlanta Gladiators on Thursday, Dec. 21 to win 4-3. The next night, the team traveled to Greenville, South Carolina to take on a challenging Swamp Rabbits club. Austin Lotz and the Icemen shut Greenville out, winning 3-0 and collecting consecutive wins for the first time this season.
Orlando enters tonight's game in a little bit of a slide. The Solar Bears have dropped four out of five, all against the Norfolk Admirals, including three straight at home to the Virginia club. Despite a 3-2 loss in a shootout on Saturday, goalie Cal Heeter looked impressive, making 35 saves. It'll be important for Jacksonville to grab momentum early, as Orlando is 5-2-1-0 this season when scoring first.
Forward Bobby MacIntyre has been recalled to the Cleveland Monsters (AHL) and will not play tonight against Orlando.
Fans can watch all the action from the Amway Center tonight as these two division rivals battle at 7:00 p.m. on ECHL TV.
Matchup Breakdown
Records:
Jacksonville Icemen: 7-15-2-2 (7th in South division)
Orlando Solar Bears: 11-14-4-1 (5th in South division)
Power Play:
Icemen: 8/96 – 8.3% (27th in ECHL)
Solar Bears: 24/154 – 15.6% (17th in ECHL)
Penalty Kill:
Icemen: 95/117 – 81.2% (20th in ECHL)
Solar Bears: 122/147 – 83.0% (15th in ECHL)
Players to Watch:
#8 F Tyson Fawcett (JAX)
6G, 6A – 12 Pts, -3 Rating
The forward brings a three-game point streak into tonight’s matchup, including a two-game goal streak.
#20 F Max Novak (ORL)
10G, 16A – 26 Pts, -16 Rating
Novak leads the team in goals with 10 and has the club’s most recent game-winning goal in a 7-2 win against Norfolk on Dec. 16,
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