Game Preview: Gladiators at Icemen

GAME NOTES

Jacksonville Icemen vs. Atlanta Gladiators

Sunday, March 10, 2019 at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena   Home Game #34

Referee: Jacob Rekucki (#20)  Linesmen: Randy Dengler (#68) & Julien Fournier (83)

About Today’s Game: This afternoon’s ECHL South Division match-up features the Jacksonville Icemen and the Atlanta Gladiators. The Icemen will look for the weekend sweep after picking up a 2-1 victory over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits last night.  With the win, the Icemen remain tied with the Orlando Solar Bears for second place in the South Division.  Meanwhile Atlanta picked up a big road point at Florida last night falling in the shootout 4-3.  Atlanta (57 pts) is now two points back of South Carolina (59 pts) for the fourth and final playoff spot in the South.  Four of the seven meetings between Jacksonville and Atlanta this season have been decided by one goal.         

Series History:  Tonight’s contest marks the eighth of ten meetings between the two teams this season.  Jacksonville leads the season series 4-2-0-1, while Atlanta leads the All-Time series 10-5-3-0. 

About the Icemen: The Icemen penalty kill remains stingy, having killed off 48 consecutive opponent power plays and have not allowed a power play goal against since February 9. Jacksonville remains first in the league on the penalty kill at 87.7-percent.  Atlanta’s power play presents a challenge today, sporting the sixth best power play percentage in the ECHL at 20.6-percent….Forward Kris Newbury has scored four goals against the Gladiators this season and is tied with Wacey Rabbit in scoring against Atlanta this season with six points. 

About the Gladiators:  Forward Nick Bligh leads the Gladiators against the Icemen with five goals this season, while Derek Nesbitt has collected eight points (3g, 5a) in seven games against Jacksonville….The Gladiators are the league’s fifth-least penalized team with 12.21 penalty minutes per game…Forward Justin MacDonald leads Atlanta with 43 points and is currently riding a three-game points streak.

Today’s Promotions:  Today’s game is another Publix Funday game!  In addition, nearly 18 mascots will also be on hand to play broom ball during the intermission.

Upcoming Games:  The Icemen return home to face Atlanta on March 29 & 30.  March 29 is Jumbo Shrimp Night as the team will wear special jerseys to celebrate our baseball friends across the street.  March 30 is Fan Appreciation Night, with giveaways all night long including a team photo giveaway for the best fans in the ECHL!