JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Saturday, the visiting Greenville Swamp Rabbits faced the Jacksonville Icemen, who held their Affiliate Night and played as the Icebuffaloes, in a nod to their NHL affiliate, the Buffalo Sabres. The Jacksonville players wore specialty Icebuffaloes jerseys featuring the buffalo head logo used by the Buffalo Sabres from 1996 to 2006. The jersey also closely resembles Buffalo’s alternate third jersey that they have worn for the past two seasons and for the current 2024-25 season. Sabretooth, the Buffalo Sabres mascot, and The Moose, the Rochester Americans mascot, were in attendance to help Fang, the Jacksonville mascot, entertain fans. Coming back from a 4-2 deficit, Greenville tied the game up in the closing minutes to force the game into overtime. After a scoreless OT period, the game would end up in a shootout, with Greenville taking the win with a 5-4 victory.
Just 11 seconds into the game, Greenville had a four-minute power play but were unable to capitalize on the man advantage. The Icebuffaloes came out strong during the first period, going up 3-0 on goals from Derek Lodermeier, Christopher Brown, and Brody Crane, despite being outshot 12-9 by the Swamp Rabbits. This would result in a netminder change for Greenville. A goal by Cooper Jones prior to the Crane goal was waved off after a video review determined the goal came from a distinct kicking motion. With less than four minutes left in the period, Colton Young put Greenville on the board to make it 3-1 headed to the break.
Second-period action saw lots of back-and-forth chances for both teams, with Greenville outshooting Jacksonville 14-8. With it looking to be a scoreless period, Brent Pedersen scored with 65 seconds left on the clock to put Greenville within one.
Jacksonville started the third period on a carry-over power play from the second period. This was their only power play of the game, with Zach Jordan giving the Icebuffaloes a two-goal cushion again to make it 4-2. Colton Young scored his second of the game to make it 4-3, as Greenville would continue to outshoot Jacksonville and apply offensive zone pressure. With just over two minutes left in the game Jake Flynn tied the game up, much to the disappointment of the Jacksonville fans, forcing the game to OT. Following a scoreless seven-minute OT, the teams headed to the shootout. Brent Pedersen scored the game-winner in the fourth round of the shootout to give Greenville the victory.
Jacksonville face the South Carolina Stingrays Sunday afternoon on the road, before facing Greenville again on Wednesday, back in Jacksonville. Greenville will face the Orlando Solar Bears on Tuesday in Orlando.
Check out this photo gallery from Inside The Rink’s Andrew Fielder, for highlights from the game.
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