GREENVILLE, SC – When the ECHL week ended last Sunday, the Jacksonville Icemen found themselves (after defeated Norfolk 4-1) only five points behind Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the South Division. However, one week later, things have changed greatly. Atlanta played three times, registering five of a possible six points (A shootout loss to South Carolina, followed by two wins in Cincinnati). Jacksonville had only played once, losing Friday night in Greenville. So, what was a five point lead for Atlanta last Sunday was now a 10 point lead. Jacksonville only had seven games starting Saturday night so they need to do a lot of work for that final spot.
Jacksonville (25-33-4-3, 57 points) started that attempt to catch Atlanta as they finished their two-game series Saturday in Greenville against the Swamp Rabbits (22-35-7-1, 52 points), who are out of the playoff race but playing the role of spoiler.
Jacksonville started Austin Lotz (18-14-1-1, 2.93 goals against average) while Ty Rimmer (12-21-1-1, 3.99 GGA) started for Greenville.
Greenville opened up the scoring early, at the 3:52 mark, when Sean Flanagan beat Lotz from just outside the crease. For Flanagan, it was his 3rd goal of the season with Johno May getting the only assist, his first of the season. Two and a half minutes, Greenville increased the lead to two when Evan Jasper recorded his 20th goal of the season. May again was awarded the only assist on the goal, which came at 6:37.
Jacksonville cut the lead to one when, with two seconds left on a Greenville power play, Tanner Eberle scored an unassisted goal at 16:36. For Eberle, it was his 19th of the season. Scoring for the period would end there with Greenville leading 2-1.
Each team was charged with one minor penalty in the first while Jacksonville outshot Greenville for the period 13-11.
Jacksonville tied the game at 1:24 of the second period when Elgin Pearce picked up a shot that bounced off the boards behind the net and beat Rimmer before he could react. For Pearce, it was his 23rd of the season, with assists going to Justin Woods and Matt Ustaski. This would be the only goal of the second period, the game now was tied at 2.
Jacksonville was charged with six minutes in penalties for the period and eight overall for the game through two. Greenville was charged with four minutes, six minutes overall. Jacksonville outshot Greenville 12-6 in the period and 25-17 overall after two.
Greenville took the lead back at 5:46 of the third when J.T. Henke beat Lotz for his 4th goal of the season. Johno recorded his third assist of the game while Jasper got the second assist. Efforts by Jacksonville, even pulling Lotz with a minute failed to be successful and Greenville ended up winning the game 3-2.
Each team was charged with two minor penalties in the third. Jacksonville ended the game with 12 penalty minutes. Greenville had 10. Jacksonville outshot Greenville 12-4 for the third and overall, Jacksonville outshot Greenville 37-21.
Icechips: The three stars of the game were all from Greenville. 1st—Johno May, 2nd—Evan Jasper and 3rd—J.T. Henke… Attendance for the game was 6,630… The regulation loss to the Swamp Rabbits put the Icemen’s chances at making the playoffs almost at the end. Jacksonville remains 10 points behind Atlanta for the last playoff spot. Jacksonville has six games left (for a maximum of 12 points). Atlanta has four games left. While Greenville is out of playoff contention, they are five points behind both Jacksonville and Norfolk (Norfolk is now also out of the playoff fight)… Greenville’s next game is Wednesday, when they travel to Estero to play the Florida Everblades… Jacksonville’s next game is Thursday, when they travel to Orlando to play the Solar Bears… Atlanta’s next game is Wednesday, when they play host to the Kalamazoo Wings.
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