Icemen Host Swamp Rabbits Tonight

The Jacksonville Icemen (9-19-3-2, 23 pts) return home for the fourth meeting against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (17-15-2-1, 37 pts) in the 2017-18 season, presented by Community First Credit Union.

Back on Dec. 22, the Icemen traveled to South Carolina and blanked the Swamp Rabbits, 3-0. Elgin Pearce scored a pair of goals and Austin Lotz notched his first professional shutout. The win marked the first of three consecutive road games without a regulation loss for Jacksonville.

Both teams enter the night looking to rebound from previous losses. The Icemen have lost four consecutive games and the Swamp Rabbits have lost two straight, including six of their last eight. After the rough patch, Greenville is currently holding on to a playoff spot with only a two point cushion over the fifth-place Atlanta Gladiators.

The Swamp Rabbits have been led by forward Caleb Herbert, who has 36 points (16g-20a) in only 23 games this season. The 26-year-old was named the CCM/ECHL Player of the Month in November. Elgin Pearce leads the Icemen with 10 goals and 15 assists, including three goals and one assist against Greenville.

Special teams will be something to pay attention to tonight. The Swamp Rabbits are fourth overall on the power play at 19.9%, but are dead last in the league on the penalty kill, allowing 41 power play goals. The Icemen power play has scored in four of their last six games and could be the difference maker in tonight's game.

In net, the Swamp Rabbits can choose either Ty Rimmer or Brandon Halverson. Halverson gave up three goals in the last meeting between the two clubs in a loss. Ty Rimmer has been victorious in his lone appearance against the Icemen back on Dec. 16. Austin Lotz has one win and one loss against the Swamp Rabbits and Jamie Phillips lost in an offensive thriller back in early November, 5-4.

Don't miss out on $2 beer & wine as well as $10 hamburger & fries as tonight's Wine and Dine Wednesday game starts at 7:30 p.m. from Veterans Memorial Arena. Click here to get your tickets!

Matchup Breakdown

Records:

Jacksonville Icemen: 9-19-3-2 (7th in South division)

Greenville Swamp Rabbits: 17-15-2-1 (3rd in South division)

Power Play:

Icemen: 12/137 – 8.8% (27th in ECHL)

Swamp Rabbits: 32/161 – 19.9% (4th in ECHL)

Penalty Kill:

Icemen: 122/149 – 81.9% (18th in ECHL)

Swamp Rabbits: 122/163 – 74.8% (27th in ECHL)

Players to Watch:

#16 F Elgin Pearce (JAX)

10G, 15A – 25 Pts, 0 Rating

Pearce has scored three goals and tallied one assist in the previous three meetings against the Swamp Rabbits. He also scored the game-winning goal on Dec. 22.

#29 F Caleb Herbert (GRN)

16G, 20A – 36 Pts, +19 Rating

Herbert has been dominant for Greenville this season. In two games against Jacksonville, the forward has two points (1g-1a).