PHN’s Best Shots of the Game: Icemen set franchise record in wild win

JACKSONVILLE, FLA – Bobby Lynch netted his first career hat trick to help steer the Jacksonville Icemen to a 9-6 victory over the Norfolk Admirals at Veterans Memorial Arena on Wednesday, February 26th. Jacksonville’s nine goals set a new club record for most goal scored in a game.

The Admirals used an even strength tally by River Rymsha, a power play goal by Joe Masonius and a shorthanded goal by Sebastian Vidmar in the first period to help take a 3-1 lead into the first break.

In the middle frame, Icemen rookie Lynch netted his second goal of the game on a rocket slapshot from the slot that ripped past Norfolk netminder Jake Theut to pull the Icemen within one.

Brendan Warren tied the game at three less than two minutes later, only to see Norfolk reclaim the lead 21 seconds later on a tally from Artem Ivanyuzhenkov.

Another two minutes would pass, and the torrid scoring pace continued when Mike Hedden potted his 13th goal of the season off the rebound to tie the game at 4-4.

Moments later, Lynch completed the hat trick bid at 11:37 of the period. Craig Martin steered a pass across slot to Lynch at the left-wing circle. Lynch wristed the puck low on the ice that slid into the Norfolk net for the go-ahead marker to the put Jacksonville ahead 5-4.

The Icemen fed off the momentum, and tacked on two more goals, including Kyle Shapiro’s first of the season to take a 7-4 edge into the second intermission.

The Admirals refused to go down without a fight, as Alex Tonge scored on a persistent effort five minutes into the final stanza to pull his team within two. Just 90 seconds later, former Icemen defenseman Scott Dornbrock recorded his first tally of the season to guide the Admirals within one by a 7-6 count.