SAVANNAH, GA – In a tight, low-scoring clash between two rivals, the Jacksonville Icemen (0-2-2) ended up on the wrong side of a 2-0 contest against the Savannah Ghost Pirates (2-2-0) at Enmarket Arena on Saturday night. Icemen goaltender Michael Bullion made 37 saves on 38 shots faced. Savannah goaltender Cristian Cicigoi stopped all 18 shots Jacksonville sent his way.
FIRST PERIOD
Both sides battled to a scoreless first-period tie as the Ghost Pirates, eager to respond after a 5-0 shutout on home ice the night before, came out fast. But goaltender Michael Bullion and the Icemen held the line through the first 20 minutes.
SECOND PERIOD
Jacksonville started the period strong, earning several quality chances to break the score. But Savannah goaltender Christian Cicigoi, playing in his first professional start, held the Icemen at bay. Late in the period, Savannah started earning chances of their own, forcing Jacksonville into back-to-back penalties. The result was a 57-second five-on-three disadvantage for Jacksonville at the start of the third.
THIRD PERIOD
Jacksonville killed off the five-on-three disadvantage but failed to capitalize on several offensive chances soon following. Instead, Savannah found the game's first goal on a point-shot through traffic that beat Bullion midway through the third period. Savannah's empty-net goal late in the contest put paid to any comeback attempt for Jacksonville, and the Icemen fell in regulation for the first time since opening night, 2-0.
Jacksonville will get set for a home-and-home weekend starting on Friday, October 30, as the Icemen hit the road to take on the winless Orlando Solar Bears at 7:00 pm before returning to Jacksonville to host the Atlanta Gladiators on Halloween afternoon at 3:00 pm at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
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