DULUTH, GA – Saturday night at the Infinity Energy Arena, the push for the final playoff spot in the South Division continued with the team currently holding the final playoff spot, the Atlanta Gladiators (29-32-1-2 61 points) facing off against one of the teams chasing them for that spot, the Jacksonville Icemen (23-32-4-3 53 points) in the second game of a two-game stint. Thursday night, the Icemen gained an important 4-1 win over the Gladiators. It was also the last regular season meeting between the two teams this season.
Austin Lotz (16-13-1-1, 2.95 goals against average) got the start for the Icemen while Sean Bonar (12-8-0-1, 2.55 goals against average) started for the Gladiators.
Over half the first period would go by before the first goal but it would be Atlanta’s Phil Lane scoring it. For Lane, it was his team leading 30th goal of the season. Assists went to Todd Skirving and Luke Sandler at the 10:42 mark.
Just over 90 seconds later, at 12:14, Jacksonville tied the game when Eli Lichtenwald redirected Cody Fowler’s shot past Bonar. For Lichtenwald, it was his second goal of the season. The second assist of the goal went to Bobby MacIntyre.
At 17:13 of the period, Jacksonville took the lead on a short-handed goal by Tanner Eberle, who beat Bonar on the stick side. For Eberle, it was his 17th of the season with the assists going to Tyson Fawcett and Justin Woods. There would be no more scoring for the period, Jacksonville leading 2-1.
Jacksonville outshot Atlanta for the period 16-14 and each team would have one minor penalty called on them.
Early in the second period, Atlanta scored twice in 28 seconds to take the lead. First, at 3:53, with four seconds left on a Jacksonville power play, Darby Llewellyn recorded his 15th of the season. Goalie Bonar got the only assist, his first assist of the season.
Then, at 4:21, the Gladiators took the lead on Eric Shand’s fifth goal of the season off an assist by Brandon Troock.
With 36 seconds left in the period, Atlanta extended the lead to two when Lane recorded his second goal of the game and 31st of the season, off assists from Colin Sullivan and Skirving. With that, scoring for the period ended with Atlanta holding a 4-2 lead.
Like in the first period, each team had one minor penalty. Jacksonville would again outshoot Atlanta, this time by a margin of 10-8 and held a 26-22 margin after two.
Just like in the second period, one team would score two goals in quick succession and this time it would be the Icemen who would score twice in 41 seconds. First off, at 8:23, Elgin Pearce got his 21st of the season, off a pass from behind the net by Woods. Garet Hunt got the second assist. Then, at 9:04, Bobby MacIntyre tied the game up on his 19th of the season. Assists were given to Brendan Collier and Lodge. There was no more scoring in the period and the game went to overtime tied at 4.
Penalties picked up in the third, with Atlanta getting nine minutes and Jacksonville seventeen. Overall, the Gladiators had 13 after regulation, the Icemen 21. Jacksonville outshot Atlanta in the third period 13-5 and had a 39-27 advantage after three.
The overtime period did not last long as only 44 seconds in, it would be the Icemen to come away from the victory. Woods scored the game winner with Lodge and Dajon Mingo getting the assists and the Icemen sweep the two game set with the Gladiators 5-4.
Icechips: Both teams would get a shot on goal in the overtime, with Jacksonville ending the game outshooting the Gladiators 40-28. No penalties were called in the overtime… The three stars of the game were 1st—Justin Woods (JAC); 2nd—Phil Lane (ATL); 3rd—Todd Skirving (ATL)… Attendance for the game was 9,542… While beating Atlanta was big for Jacksonville’s chances of catching the Gladiators for the final playoff spot, the loss in overtime still meant that Atlanta received a point for the night. So, Jacksonville ended the night with 55 points on the season while Atlanta now has 62. The other team trying to catch Atlanta for the last playoff spot, Norfolk, defeated Greenville 5-2 at the Scope. The Admirals now have 57 points, five behind Atlanta… Jacksonville continues their playoff push Sunday afternoon in a game against the other South Division working to make the playoffs as they travel to Norfolk to play the Admirals… Atlanta’s next game is Thursday night when they travel to Cincinnati to play the Cyclones.
Contact the author at kenneth.holdren@prohockeynews.com
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