Today, the Jacksonville Icemen (12-22-3-2, 29 pts) finish a four-game road trip as they take on the Manchester Monarchs (23-14-3-1, 50 pts) at 3:00 p.m.
This is the fourth and final meeting between the two teams, with Jacksonville holding the 2-1 record in the 2017-18 season, presented by Community First Credit Union. In the two wins for the Icemen this season, they combined for 10 goals. The offense is going to need to continue to click today as Manchester is the sixth-highest goal scoring team in the ECHL.
Additionally, the Icemen are going to have to stay out of the box today if they want to earn their first three-game winning streak of the season. Over the past two games, the Icemen have allowed two power-play goals. However, Jacksonville has been playing phenomenal even-strength hockey. This weekend, the Icemen have only allowed three even-strength goals.
In net, it is likely that Charles Williams will get his second start against Jacksonville this season. The first time the Icemen faced Williams, they chased him out of the net in just over 10 minutes of play, scoring four goals on six shots. For Jacksonville, Austin Lotz is the probable starter after Colton Phinney started in last night's 4-2 win against the Monarchs. Lotz is coming off a win against Worcester on Friday, 5-3.
Do you have your tickets for Faith and Family Weekend yet? Join the Icemen from Jan. 26-28 and don’t miss out on a live performance by Colton Dixon immediately after the Jan. 26 game against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Help us defeat cancer as we host Hockey Fights Cancer Weekend on Feb. 1-3. Find out more about this special weekend by visiting here.
Tune into ECHL TV today at 3:00 p.m. as the Icemen take on the Monarchs.
Matchup Breakdown
Records:
Jacksonville Icemen: 12-22-3-2 (7th in South Division)
Manchester Monarchs: 23-14-3-1 (1st in North Division)
Power Play:
Icemen: 15/158 – 9.5% (27th in ECHL)
Monarchs: 34/187 – 18.2% (11th in ECHL)
Penalty Kill:
Icemen: 139/170 – 81.8% (17th in ECHL)
Monarchs: 148/173 – 85.5% (5th in ECHL)
Players to Watch:
#22 F Bobby MacIntyre (JAX)
7G, 6A – 13 Pts, +4 Rating
MacIntyre has two goals in two games against Manchester this season.
#10 F Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman (MAN)
19G, 16A – 35 Pts, +4 Rating
LaVallee-Smotherman has three points in three games against the Icemen this season, including a goal and an assist in last night’s loss.