NORFOLK, VA – Sunday afternoon at the Scope, the Jacksonville Icemen and Norfolk Admirals played each other in a game with major playoff implications. With the Atlanta Gladiators currently sitting in the fourth and last playoff spot with 62 points, Norfolk (25-32-6-1 57 points) was five back while Jacksonville (24-32-4-3 55 points) sat seven back. At the start of the day, Atlanta had seven games left to play, Norfolk had eight and Jacksonville nine. Atlanta had the day off Sunday but play Monday against South Carolina.
Austin Lotz (17-13-1-1, 2.99 goals against average) got the start for the Icemen while Ty Reichenbach (18-18-3-0, 3.24 GGA) started for the Admirals.
In a first period that was low on statistics, the Icemen were able to record the only goal of the people when Brendan Collier’s shot on Reichenbach rebounded right onto the stick of Tanner Eberle, who beat Reichenbach. Collier got the only assist on the goal, which came at 14:50. There was no more scoring in the period, Jacksonville leading 1-0.
The only penalty of the period was called on Jacksonville’s Matt Ustaski, who was called for high-sticking at 17:10. Each team had 11 shots in the period.
The second period went much like the first, played close to the vest. The same result took place in the second, as in the first, with the only scoring in the period again done by Jacksonville. At 13:50 of the period, Eli Lichtenwald recorded his third of the season, with the only assist going to Jimmy Lodge. The period ended with no more scoring and Jacksonville leading 2-0.
Each team was charged with one minor penalty in the second, Jacksonville having 4 minutes for the game, Norfolk two. Jacksonville outshot Norfolk in the second period 11-6 and, after two, Jacksonville held a 22-17 advantage in shots.
At the 4:32 mark of the third, Jacksonville extended the lead to three when Elgin Pearce’s shot to the Norfolk goal deflected off the stick of Norfolk’s Jordan Abt. The goal was listed as unassisted. It was Pearce’s 22nd of the season.
Norfolk would finally score at the 7:36 mark of the period when Max Cook beat Lotz for his 3rd of the season. Assists went to Domenic Alberga and Alex Pompero. However, even the Admirals pulling Reichenbach did not work as the Icemen’s Ustaski scored into the empty net for the Icemen’s fourth and final goal. The game ended there with Jacksonville winning 4-1.
Penalties really increased in the third, with two different fights taking place. Jacksonville ended the period with 18 penalty minutes for a game total of 22 and Norfolk had 14 for a game total of 16. Norfolk outshot Jacksonville in the third 11-8 but Jacksonville won the shot battle for the game 31-28.
Icechips: The three stars of the game were 1st—Eli Lichtenwald (JAC); 2nd—Max Cook (NOR); and 3rd—Domenic Alberga (NOR)… Attendance for the game was 1,117… The past week was very important to the Jacksonville playoff chances and they did not disappoint, taking all available six points and only allowing those teams they are fighting for the final spot one in comparison. The win put Jacksonville into a tie with Norfolk at 57 points with one game in hand, with Atlanta five points ahead. Jacksonville also had one game in hand on Atlanta. Atlanta plays Monday night at home against South Carolina… Jacksonville is now off till Friday, when they travel to Greenville to play the Swamp Rabbits in the first of a two game series… Norfolk’s next game is Wednesday, when they start a three game series in Estero against the Florida Everblades.
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