Sunday afternoon at the Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, FL, the Jacksonville Icemen (20-28-4-3 47 pts.) received a visit from a Northern Division team as the Brampton Beast (20-24-6-3 49 pts.) came into Jacksonville for their only regular season trip of the season. The two teams met earlier in the season, with the Icemen winning in Brampton 5-0, the first win in the team’s history in Jacksonville.
Brampton started Daniel Spence, who was making his first start for the Beast. Jacksonville started Austin Lotz (13-9-1-1)
The first period was mostly a defensive adventure, as the two teams got used to one another. The only goal of the period came at the 12:37 mark and it was registered by Jacksonville’s Elgin Pearce, who recorded his 17th of the season, slipping a rebound shot by Eli Lichtenwald. Lichtenwald was awarded the only assist.
Each team was assessed only one minor penalty in the first period and Brampton outshot Jacksonville 13-11.
The scoring picked up in the second period and started earlier. In fact, it only took 1:51 for the Beast to tie the game on Tyson Wilson’s 2nd goal of the season. Cody Donaghey and Brandon MacLeon were awarded the assists.
At 11:12 of the period, Jacksonville took the lead back when, on a two on one break, Pearce was able to beat the defenseman, skate in front of Spence and backhanded the puck past him. For Pearce, it was his second goal of the game and 18th of the season. Assists went to Lichtenwald and Bobby MacIntyre.
A little over 90 seconds later, Brampton would tie the game back up on Cody Donaghey’s 6th of the season. Brandon Marino and Vincent Dunn were given assists on the last goal for either team in the period. The game was tied at 2.
Jacksonville received nine minutes in penalties for the period and Brampton five. Brampton again outshot Jacksonville 13-6 and held a 26-17 advantage after two.
Brampton would open the scoring early in the third period when, at the 1:12 mark, Reggie Taccitto recorded his 13th of the season, off assists from Jamie Doornbosch and Jackson Leef.
Brampton’s 3-2 lead looked like it would hold up as the game went into the final minute but Jacksonville was able to tie the game when Cody Fowler recorded his 2nd of the season, putting the rebound past Spence. Tim Daly and Christopher Dienes were awarded assists and the scoring ended there as the game went into overtime tied at 3.
Brampton had six minutes in penalties in the third, 13 overall while Jacksonville had four in the third, 15 overall. Brampton outshot Jacksonville in the third 6-4 and held a 32-21 advantage after three.
In overtime, Jacksonville won the game at the 2:49 mark when Bobby MacIntyre passed to an open Christopher Dienes at the top of the crease. Dienes then one-timed the shot pass Spence and Jacksonville would win the game 4-3.
There were no penalties in the overtime and Jacksonville outshot Brampton 3-1 in the extra session. Overall, Brampton had 33 shots, Jacksonville 24.
Icechips: The three stars of the game all came from Jacksonville. 1st—Christopher Dienes, 2nd—Elgin Pearce and 3rd—Eli Lichtenwald.
The attendance, on Rally Towel afternoon, was 6987.
The win by Jacksonville, coupled with Norfolk’s 2-1 loss in Orlando, moved Jacksonville into fifth place in the South Division, seven points behind Orlando for the final playoff spot. Brampton remains last in the Northern Division.
Brampton’s next game is Tuesday night, when they return home to play Worcester.
Jacksonville’s next game is Wednesday night, on the road against the Florida Everblades. They return home Friday night to play the Reading Royals.
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