The Jacksonville Icemen snapped a four-game winless streak with an impressive 4-2 win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Brendan Collier collected his first multi-goal game of the 2017-18 season, presented by Community First Credit Union, and the Icemen set a franchise record for shots on goal with 49 tonight. Additionally, Chris Joseph skated in his 100th career professional hockey game.
For the fourth straight game, the Icemen were first to find the back of the net. Shortly after the halfway mark in the first period, Cameron Critchlow refused to give up on a rebound at the side of the goal and jammed the puck past Ty Rimmer for the 1-0 lead. Only a few minutes later, Elgin Pearce fired the puck on goal and the rebound found Bobby MacIntyre's skate as he trailed the play and deflected into the net. Jacksonville dominated offensively throughout the opening frame, leading in shots on goal, 19-9.
The Swamp Rabbits would hit the ice for the second period hungry to get back into the game. They did just that when Sean Flanagan found Evan Jasper alone in the right circle for a power-play goal. With the momentum back on their side, the Swamp Rabbits were set on tying the game. Caleb Herbert, Greenville's leading scorer, took the puck all the way up the ice, slicing through four Icemen defenders before beating Austin Lotz with a diving goal. The remarkable effort evened the game as the teams skated off the ice.
Jacksonville was determined not to let another lead slip away as the third period began. Early in the period, Elgin Pearce found Bobby MacIntyre and Brendan Collier all alone on a breakaway and MacIntyre slid the puck cross-ice to Collier for the go-ahead goal. Just before the final buzzer sounded, Brendan Collier tallied his second goal of the game as he scored an empty-net goal with two seconds remaining.
The Icemen return home to take on division rival Atlanta Gladiators on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m.
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