On Friday, the Jacksonville Icemen finally got things started at home in the new year, taking on the Savannah Ghost Pirates during their retro game theme night. The Friday night showdown was the first game on home ice since the Icemen’s OT loss to the South Carolina Stingrays on Dec. 22.
Jacksonville begins the 2024 calendar year 0-1 after a 6-3 loss to the Orlando Solar Bears on Wednesday, Jan. 3. The game in Orlando was the fourth in a road trip that closed out 2023. The Icemen went 2-2 on the road, including a 5-4 New Year’s Eve win in Cincinnati, where 13 different Icemen players picked up a point.
Friday night’s game was the fifth meeting between the Icemen and the Ghost Pirates this season, with Jacksonville winning all four of the previous contests. Coming into Friday night’s game 7-6-3 on home ice, the Icemen looked to a fresh start at home with the turn of the calendar.
Scoring Breakdown –
First Period: Savannah defenseman Bryce Martin opened the scoring for the Ghost Pirates just 2:11 into the first period. The Icemen got their chance to respond on a four-minute powerplay chance as a result of a Ghost Pirates high stick, with blueliner Ivan Chukarov pocketing his third goal of the year. The Ghost Pirates, however, would take a 2-1 lead into the second after forward Sebastian Vidmar netted his sixth goal of the season 16:14 into the period.
Shots: SAV: 11 | JAX: 8
Second Period: Both teams doubled up their score total in the second period. Icemen captain Christopher Brown scored his 12th goal of the season 5:27 into the period, tying things up at two-a-side. It was late into the middle frame when Savannah’s Joe Fleming added the third goal of the evening for the Ghost Pirates. Fleming’s 3-2 tally came on a shorthanded chance that saw him walk through three Icemen players and put the puck past goalie Michael Houser. Savannah forward Alex Swetlikoff added the 4-2 goal less than two minutes later, giving Savannah a two-goal lead heading into the last 20 minutes of play.
Shots: SAV: 8 | JAX: 11
Third Period: Olivier Nadeau pulled the Icemen within one in the dying minutes of the game. With just 2:08 left to play, the new Icemen forward rifled in his fourth goal of the season. Nadeau’s goal came during late period 6-on-5 action, the Icemen electing to pull goaltender Michael Houser with just under three minutes remaining. Ultimately, the late-period heroics couldn’t beat the clock, with the Icemen running out of time to complete the comeback.
Shots: SAV: 9 | JAX:10
Total shots on goal: SAV: 28 | JAX 31
Home Woes –
Losing at home is most certainly a trend the Jacksonville Icemen wanted to leave in 2023. The team has struggled to get their footing under them in their own building, and Friday’s showing was no different. Outpaced in their own end, the Icemen were often on the wrong end of board battles. They were able to find some success opening up space laterally, but in transition, the team looked bogged down and unfocused.
The performance of goalie Michael Houser was often the difference maker for Jacksonville. The Icemen netminder’s acrobatics kept the game within reach for the team, stopping 24 of the 28 shots he faced. Houser was often left to deal with high-danger chances on his own, his quick reactions the last safeguard from blowout.
An inability to win on home ice is concerning, and now approaching the second half of the season, it’s almost time to start sounding the alarm. Being .500 at home isn’t the ideal situation to be in as the standings race starts to really heat up. There’s only one home game remaining on the schedule that doesn’t see the Icemen lining up against a divisional opponent. Greenville may have a solid lead over the rest of the division, but the race for spots two, three, and four is tight. If the Icemen wish to keep their postseason hopes viable, they’ll need to sort out the home ice hiccups.
Click here to see the full game gallery by our Icemen Photographer Andrew Fielder.
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