Photo: Andrew Fielder for Inside The Rink
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It was Wizard Night on Saturday, with the Jacksonville Icemen taking on the visiting Florida Everblades. A 4-2 victory for the Everblades, who scored three goals with just over three minutes left in the game, also clinched a playoff spot for them in the postseason.
Jacksonville’s Trevor Griebel scored the first goal of the game, in his first-ever game for the Icemen and his first-ever professional career goal. Jacksonville piled on the offensive pressure, outshooting Florida 11-6 during the period. Jacksonville held onto the 1-0 lead until late into the second period when Everblades captain, Oliver Chau, tied the game at the 16:54 mark, beating Michael Bullion in net, for his first of the night. Florida outshot Jacksonville 14-6 during the period.
At just past the halfway point of the third period, Jacksonville retook the lead with a goal by Will Hillman, who backhanded the puck past Kyle McClellan in net for Florida, for a 2-1 lead. With the opportunity for Florida to punch their ticket to the playoffs, the Everblades continued to pepper the net with shots. With just over three minutes left in the game, Anthony Romano tied the game up with an unassisted goal. A late power play opportunity for Florida gave Oliver Chau his second of the night and a 3-2 lead, with just over two minutes left in the game. Jacksonville pulled Bullion from the net for the extra attacker, with hopes of tying the game up, but an empty-net goal by Jordan Sambrook sealed the 4-2 victory for Florida. Florida outshot Jacksonville 15-4 during the period, outshooting them 35-21 in the game. The two teams will face each other again on Sunday afternoon.
Check out this photo gallery from Inside The Rink’s Andrew Fielder, for highlights from the game.
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Andrew Fielder is our Jacksonville Icemen Photographer and also our Photography Editor for Inside The Rink.
You can also view his latest hockey photos at www.andrewfielderphotography.com