MANCHESTER, NH – Saturday night, the Jacksonville Icemen (11-22-3-2 27 points) continued their second road trip this season through New England, once again stopping in Manchester, New Hampshire to play the Monarchs. It was actually the third meeting of the season between the two teams, with each team winning the game played on their home ice. Heading into the contest, the Monarchs (23-13-3-1 50 points) led the North Division.
Starting in the net for Jacksonville was Colton Phinney (2-6-1-1, 3.11 goals against average) while Brandon Komm (6-3-0-0, 2.85 GGA with Manchester) got the start for the Monarchs.
Like Friday night in Worcester, Jacksonville got on the board first when Komm was faced with both Brendan Collier and Bobby MacIntyre in front of the net. Collier slid the puck over to MacIntyre, who slid it past Komm for his 6th of the season. In addition to Collier, Scott Savage was given an assist. The goal came at 6:41of the opening frame.
Jacksonville took a two-goal lead at 13:04 of the period when Scott Savage stole the puck at the back of the net, came in front and his back-hander beat Komm. For Savage, it was his 6th of the season. Assists on the play were awarded to Tyson Fawcett and Cameron Critchlow. With that, the period ended with Jacksonville leading 2-0.
The shots on goal battle in the first period was won by Jacksonville as the Icemen outshot Manchester 16-8. Manchester received 16 penalty minutes, ten of which came on Alexx Privitera’s game misconduct for abuse of officials. Jacksonville was assessed six minutes in penalties.
Moving into the second period, Jacksonville extended the lead to three when off a Manchester turnover in their own zone, a slapshot by Josh Erickson beat Komm at 9:11. For Erickson, it was his 6th of the season and no assists were awarded.
Manchester finally got onto the board at 13:51 of the period when Spencer Watson beat Phinney from between the face-off circles. For Watson, the power play goal was his fifth of the season with assists going to Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman and Matt Marcinew. There was no more scoring in the second period that finished with Jacksonville leading 3-1.
Manchester turned the shots around on Jacksonville in the middle frame, outshooting the Icemen 14-6. After two, the shots were tied at 22 apiece. There were only two minor penalties called in the period, both on Jacksonville. After two, Manchester still led in penalty minutes 16-10.
It did not take long for the scoring to start in the third period and it was Jacksonville that extended its lead back to three. Manchester turned the puck over in its own zone, where it was picked up by Tanner Eberle, who passed it to MacIntyre all alone at the edge of the crease. MacIntyre one-timed it past by Komm at 25 seconds for the goal. Eberle getting the only assist.
Manchester reduced the lead to two when at the 10:10 mark of the period, LaVallee-Smotherman scored his 19th of the season from just inside the blue line. Assists went to Eric Schurhamer and Marcinew. However, Manchester would not be able to score again and two late penalties on the Monarchs would prevent them from pulling Komm for an extra attacker as Jacksonville finished the night 4-2 winners.
Icechips: Shots for the third period would be nine for each team. The final shots ended up being 31 for each team… Manchester was assessed eight minutes in penalties in the third, while Jacksonville was given four. For the game, Manchester ended up with 24 penalty minutes to 14 for the Icemen… Attendance for the game was posted as 4,037… The three stars of the game were 1st: Bobby MacIntyre (Jacksonville), 2nd:Scott Savage (Jacksonville) and 3rd: Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman (Manchester)… The Icemen and Monarchs will meet again Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. in the SNHU Arena in Manchester… After Sunday, Jacksonville’s next game is Wednesday at home when they start a seven game home stand with a contest against the South Carolina Stingrays. For the Monarchs after Sunday, they do not play again until Saturday, when they travel to Wheeling to play the Nailers.
Contact the author at kenneth.holdren@prohockeynews.com
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