The Jacksonville Icemen (7-15-3-2, 19 pts) travel to Norfolk, Virginia for the first time in the 2017-18 season, presented by Community First Credit Union, to take on the Norfolk Admirals (11-17-1-0, 23 pts) on Friday at 7:00 p.m.
These two teams played each other twice almost one month ago in Jacksonville. The Admirals took both games, but each required more than 60 minutes of hockey. Defenseman Scott Savage leads the team in points against Norfolk with four, including two goals. Elgin Pearce has scored three against the Admirals while captain Garet Hunt notched two in one game against the Virginia-based club on Dec. 2. With a win tonight and again on Saturday night, the Icemen can move into sixth place in the South Division.
Both teams head into tonight's matchup with a struggling power play. The Admirals are just 11.3% at home with the man advantage, and the Icemen have only scored once on the power play when away from home.
Norfolk has an opportunity to record their longest winning streak of the season tonight, as they enter Friday with a three-game winning streak. The Admirals haven't played since Dec. 23 against Orlando, so it's imperative that the Icemen get a fast start tonight.
Despite an overtime loss to the Solar Bears on Wednesday, things are still looking up for Jacksonville. The Icemen have collected at least one point in five of their last seven games, including their last three games.
Tune into ECHL TV tonight at 7:00 p.m. to watch the Icemen take on the Admirals from the Norfolk Scope.
Matchup Breakdown
Records:
Jacksonville Icemen: 7-15-3-2 (7th in South division)
Norfolk Admirals: 11-17-1-0 (6th in South division)
Power Play:
Icemen: 8/99 – 8.1% (27th in ECHL)
Admirals: 24/141 – 17.0% (14th in ECHL)
Penalty Kill:
Icemen: 97/120 – 80.8% (21st in ECHL)
Admirals: 105/125 – 84.0% (9th in ECHL)
Players to Watch:
#2 D Scott Savage (JAX)
5G, 8A – 13 Pts, -7 Rating
Savage leads all Icemen defenders in goals and points. The defenseman also has scored two of his five goals against the Admirals this season.
#12 F Grant Besse (NOR)
13G, 14A – 27 Pts, -6 Rating
The forward leads the Admirals in goals and points this season. He’s appeared in every game except one and has one game-winning goal.
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