The Jacksonville Icemen defeated the Worcester Railers, 5-3, in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs on Friday night. Garet Hunt skated in his 600th career ECHL game as the Icemen snapped a three-game losing streak.
After four days off, the Icemen were hungry to get off to a fast start. They did just that as Kyle Shapiro made some slick moves and found Josh Erickson open in front of the net for the first goal of the game. The Railers would eventually respond with a goal of their own as Woody Hudson deflected Matthew Gaudreau's shot from the point for a power-play goal. Despite being 27th in the ECHL on the power play this season, the Icemen would find success late in the first on the man advantage. Goalie Mitch Gillam stopped the initial shot from Tim Daly, but Everett Clark was in the crease and used a one-handed shot to put the Icemen back on top in the first period.
The scoring would only increase as the second period began at the DCU Center. Shortly after the Railers' power play expired, Woody Hudson found Barry Almeida in front of the net to tie the game at two. Less than three minutes later, Tyson Fawcett made a pass to Tanner Eberle all by himself at center ice and Eberle would skate in and beat Gillam blocker-side for the 3-2 advantage. For the third straight time, the Railers would answer when Matt Lane scored from the right circle off a rebound.
Just over halfway into the second frame, Tanner Eberle connected with Elgin Pearce in the offensive zone and Pearce snuck a backhand shot through Gillam's five-hole for the 4-3 lead. Right before the period ended, Kyle Shapiro scored one of the most bizarre goals you'll ever see. The defenseman took a slap shot from the point that deflected off the glass and then off the back of Gillam's leg and into the net. The 28-year-old will take it as it's his first-ever ECHL goal.
In the third period, Austin Lotz stopped all nine shots and the Icemen held on to win their fifth road game of the 2017-18 season, presented by Community First Credit Union.
Next up, the Icemen take on the Manchester Monarchs for a back-to-back series, starting on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
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