IceMen Look to Take Down League-Leading 'Blades
February 24, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Jacksonville Icemen News Release
Fresh off a win last night against the Norfolk Admirals, the Jacksonville Icemen (19-28-4-3, 45 pts) face a big test tonight against the best team in the league, Florida Everblades (36-12-1-4, 77 pts). Jacksonville is searching for its first win against the dominant Florida team.
Just like the Icemen, the 'Blades played last night. However, Florida fell to Orlando in a 3-1 loss at home. It's a stretch to say the 'Blades are struggling, but the club has lost three of their last five games heading into tonight.
One reason for Florida's success this season has been their impressive goaltending depth. Outside of South Carolina and Toledo, the 'Blades have arguably the strongest goalie tandem in the league. Martin Ouellette is currently posting a 2.05 GAA, just right behind the league-leader Matej Machovsky of Toledo, whose played in eight fewer games. Callum Booth hasn't been too bad, either. The 2015 Carolina Hurricanes draft pick has recorded one shutout and posted a 2.51 GAA.
The last time these two teams played was back on Jan. 13 in Jacksonville. Since then, the Icemen have added some weapons to the roster. Recently acquired forward Cody Fowlie has five points in just three games, including a three-point game against Norfolk last night. Chad Thibodeau made his pro debut on Friday against the Admirals and brings depth to the blue line.
Catch all the action tonight on ECHL TV as the Icemen travel to Germain Arena to take on the Florida Everblades at 7:00 p.m.
Matchup Breakdown
Records:
Jacksonville Icemen: 19-28-4-3 (6th in South division)
Florida Everblades: 36-12-1-4 (5th in South division)
Power Play:
Icemen: 22/219 - 10.0% (27th in ECHL)
Everblades: 35/202 - 17.3% (12th in ECHL)
Penalty Kill:
Icemen: 196/238 - 82.4% (13th in ECHL)
Everblades: 205/239 - 85.8% (5th in ECHL)
Players to Watch:
#16 F Elgin Pearce (JAX)
15G, 24A - 39 Pts, -1 Rating
Pearce leads the Icemen in scoring against the 'Blades with three goals and two assists this season.
#7 F Quentin Shore (FLA)
10G, 16A - 26 Pts, +16 Rating
No Florida player has more goals against the Icemen than Shore, whose recorded five this season.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from February 24, 2018
- Desrosiers Blanks Rush - Rapid City Rush
- 'Blades Run into "Lotz" of Stellar Goaltending in 4-3 OT Loss - Florida Everblades
- Fuel Pull Within Two Points of Playoff Spot; Complete Sweep of Quad City - Indy Fuel
- Americans Swept in Weekend Set with KC - Allen Americans
- Stingrays Use Turtle Power to Roll Past Beast, 5-1 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Swamp Rabbits Early Advantage Leads to Point in Overtime - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Cyclones Survive Late Push to Clip Wings - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Parks Blanks Allen to Close Weekend Sweep - Kansas City Mavericks
- Goalies on Display in 2-1 Setback for Wings - Kalamazoo Wings
- Drapluk Nets First Pro Hat Trick as Oilers Top Eagles - Tulsa Oilers
- Drapluk's Natural Hat Trick Pushes Oilers Past Eagles, 6-3 - Colorado Eagles
- Iacopelli Leads Fuel Past Mallards - Quad City Mallards
- Thunder Win Overtime Thriller over Reading - Adirondack Thunder
- Nagle Stymies Gladiators to Give Toledo 3-2 Win - Atlanta Gladiators
- Stingrays Get by Beast 5-1 - Brampton Beast
- Lodge's Heroics Down 'Blades in Estero - Jacksonville Icemen
- Reading Earns Point in Divisional Battle with Adirondack, 3-2 (OT) - Reading Royals
- Railers Impressive in 4-1 Road Victory in Manchester - Worcester Railers HC
- Monarchs Dropped by Railers, 4-1 - Manchester Monarchs
- Game Day Storylines at Rapid City - Idaho Steelheads
- Motte Signs PTO with Stockton; Kulbakov Rejoins Mallards - Quad City Mallards
- Colorado Signs Forward Nick Miglio, Romig Departs for Europe - Colorado Eagles
- F Ryan Penny Returns to Reading, Released from Binghamton PTO - Reading Royals
- ECHL Transactions - February 24 - ECHL
- Thunder, Grizzlies Round Two Tonight in Utah - Wichita Thunder
- Americans Face Mavericks Again Tonight - Allen Americans
- Cyclones Game Notes: vs. Kalamazoo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Gameday - Adirondack (29-20-3-3) vs. Reading (30-20-3-0) - Adirondack Thunder
- ECHL Announces Fine - ECHL
- Kevin Morris returns from Binghamton; Evan Cowley Assigned by Springfield - Manchester Monarchs
- IceMen Look to Take Down League-Leading 'Blades - Jacksonville Icemen
- Gameday Report: Mavericks vs. Americans (Game II) - Kansas City Mavericks
- Greenville in Fort Wayne for Second Straight Night - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Monarchs Game Day Capsule, February 24 - Manchester Monarchs
- Mallards Game Day - Quad City Mallards
- Division Positioning on the Line in #13 vs. Thunder - Reading Royals
- Grizzlies Win 7-3 to Open Weekend - Utah Grizzlies
- Thunder Falls in First of Two in Utah - Wichita Thunder
- Siavk Splits First Two in Series - Rapid City Rush
- Sivak, Rush Skate Past Steelheads - Idaho Steelheads
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
