For the final game of 2017, the Jacksonville Icemen (8-15-3-2, 21 pts) take on the Norfolk Admirals (11-17-2-0, 24 pts) in the second game of a back-to-back series in Norfolk. The Icemen have a chance to head into 2018 with four wins in their last five games of 2017 if they can win tonight.
With several roster transactions in the past few weeks, the depth of the Icemen continues to amaze. It starts with the first line of Tanner Eberle, Cameron Critchlow and Jimmy Lodge. Critchlow now has points in six of his last seven games, Lodge has not gone more than two games without points since Nov. 11 and Eberle has four goals in his last seven games. Josh Erickson impressed everybody last night with an astonishing debut, notching three points, including the game-winning goal in overtime. Austin Lotz leads the team in wins with four and has one shutout this season. Those are just a few of the players stepping up for this young Icemen team.
For the Icemen to defeat the Admirals tonight, they're going to need to stay out of the box. Norfolk burned Jacksonville twice last night with two goals on the man advantage. Despite struggling so far this season on the power play, the Admirals have tallied five goals in only three games against the Icemen.
Winning back-to-back games at the Norfolk Scope won't be easy. The Admirals haven't dropped two in a row since Nov. 22-24 when the Everblades came to Norfolk. A win Friday would mark the first time the Icemen have won two consecutive games on the road in the 2017-18 season, presented by Community First Credit Union.
Tune in tonight to ECHL TV at 7:00 p.m. as the Icemen look to skate into 2018 with another victory.
Matchup Breakdown
Records:
Jacksonville Icemen: 8-15-3-2 (7th in South division)
Norfolk Admirals: 11-17-2-0 (6th in South division)
Power Play:
Icemen: 9/105 – 8.6% (27th in ECHL)
Admirals: 26/147 – 17.7% (15th in ECHL)
Penalty Kill:
Icemen: 101/126 – 80.2% (23rd in ECHL)
Admirals: 111/131 – 84.0% (9th in ECHL)
Players to Watch:
#14 F Jimmy Lodge (JAX)
7G, 17A – 24 Pts, +14 Rating
Lodge leads the team in points and +/- rating this season. The forward also has one goal and two assists against Norfolk this season.
#7 F Brodie Dupont (NOR)
10G, 18A – 28 Pts, -10 Rating
Dupont’s been dangerous against Jacksonville, posting one goal and five assists in only three meetings this season. He also leads the Admirals in assists and points.
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