With the season coming to an end, every team is looking to get those final wins in their column. The Jacksonville Icemen hosted the Savannah Ghost Pirates on Friday, April 12. The Icemen were looking to break their three-game losing streak and finish their regular season on a winning streak.
The first period started strong for the Icemen. The Icemen outshot the Ghost Pirates 9-2 in the first nine minutes of the game. Jacksonville was able to score with a snap shot just inside the left face-off circle by Matheson Iacopelli right after Savannah got the penalty kill. Dominic Mersch would be called for a 2-minute penalty for holding at 10:25, allowing Savannah to have the man advantage. Savannah’s Matthew Boudens would quickly put the wrist shot by Joe Mercada at 10:32 to get the power play goal. Savannah would tie the game 1-1. Savannah’s Joe Fleming would be called for a two-minute minor penalty for holding. Jacksonville would get the power play and capitalize a power play goal. Garrett Van Wyhe would eventually score and give the Icemen a 2-1 advantage with a rebound shot at 13:11 in the first.
The second period would shift momentum, and Savannah would be the one to reach ahead. The Ghost Pirates would score two goals during the second period. The first goal was a one-timer by Simon Pinard, evening up the score at 12:11 in the second period. Jacob Panetta would get two penalties in the second period. The first penalty was a minor, two minutes for slashing, but would also receive a 10-minute misconduct penalty. The Ghost Pirates would again have the power play, and Logan Drevitch would put a one-timer past Joe Mercada just 19 seconds into the power play. Savannah would outshoot Jacksonville 13 – 4, and the period would end with Savannah on top 3-2.
After a slow second period for the Icemen, they were determined to catch up to the Ghost Pirates. Jacksonville would be the one to take advantage as they outshot Savannah 8 – 0 during the first five minutes of the game. After going back and forth, Jerry D’Amigo would push the puck through the back door, leaving the third tied 3-3 with 5:39 left to go in the period. Savannah would attempt to squeeze ahead late in the third but was unable to put the puck in the net, and the game would go to overtime. Garrett Van Wyhe would be the Icemen to put the wrist shot into the net at 3:20, giving the Icemen the overtime win.
The Icemen look to close out the regular season back at home on Saturday, April 13, at 7 p.m. vs. the Atlanta Gladiators. The Icemen will then be back at home for the last game of the regular season, Sunday, April 14, at 3 p.m. vs. Atlanta.
