GAME DAY: Everblades vs. Jacksonville - Dec. 5

ESTERO, Fla. — The Florida Everblades (11-5-4-0, 26 pts.) start the second week of a six-game homestand with a matchup against the Jacksonville Icemen (13-7-1-0, 27 pts.), with a chance to leapfrog the Icemen for the top spot in the South Division standings.

VITALS:Game 21: Everblades vs. JacksonvilleWhen: 7:30 p.m. ETWhere: Hertz ArenaTickets: TicketmasterWatch: ECHL.tvListen: WJBX Social: Twitter | #JAXvsFLA

Last Time OutSteven Lorentz netted his first multi-goal game of the season and Jamie Phillips turned in a 29-save effort to extend the ‘Blades point streak to eight games (6-0-2-0) with a 4-2 win over South Carolina on home ice on Saturday night. After not scoring a goal in the second period in the three previous matchups with the Stingrays, the Everblades struck three times in the middle frame to widen the lead. 

​​​​​​Players to WatchJohn McCarron (FLA) – The 'Blades captain has registered a goal in back to back games after tabbing just one in his previous 10 contests. The Macomb, Michigan, native is third in the ECHL with a +15 rating and third on the team with 19 points (7g-12a). 

Kris Newbury (JAX) - The veteran leads the Icemen in both scoring (19 pts.) and assists (15) in 17 games played. Newbury has four points (4a) in the five meetings with Florida this season, including the primary assist on the Icemen's overtime tally in a 4-3 win over Florida on Nov. 3. 

Series historyWednesday is the sixth of the 13 matchups between Florida and Jacksonville this season and the third of six tilts at Hertz Arena. In the most recent meeting, Jacksonville earned its first regulation win over Florida in series history with a 2-1 decision at Veterans Memorial Arena on Nov. 14. The Everblades still hold a commanding 16-1-2 mark in the 19 all-time meetings, including a 9-0-1 record on home ice. 

Key notes

• Thanks to a 2-0-1 weekend against South Carolina, Florida pushed its season-high point streak to eight games (6-0-2). The 'Blades have the longest active point streak in the league and the second-longest point streak of the season. Only Toledo's 11-game point streak from Oct. 20-Nov. 17 is longer. Florida also has points in seven straight home games dating back to Oct. 20.   
• Florida leads the ECHL with a +14 goal differential (27-13) in the second period and has yielded a league-low 13 goals in the middle frame. As part of that dominance, the Everblades have been outscored in the second stanza in just four of their 20 games this season.   
• With the opening goal on Saturday night against the Stingrays, the 'Blades have scored first in three straight games, tying their season-high for consecutive games with the first goal. Florida also scored first in three consecutive tilts from Oct. 27-Nov. 3.   
• Florida is one of just two teams in the 27-team ECHL that has not lost in regulation when scoring first this year and is 6-0-3-0 in such games. Tulsa (9-0-1-1) is the only other team without a regulation loss in games it has scored first.   
• Lorentz has posted at least one point in seven of his last eight games and has five multi-point games in that stretch. The second-year pro is nearly two-thirds of the way to his point total from his rookie campaign (35 pts.) even though he is only at 25 percent of his total of games played from last season (62 games).   
• South Carolina capitalized on one of its two power-play opportunities on Saturday, halting the 'Blades streak of 25 consecutive successful penalty kills on home ice. Despite yielding that power-play marker, Florida still holds the highest home penalty kill conversion rate in the ECHL at 93.5 percent (29-for-31). That penalty kill streak stretched over parts of eight home games back to Oct. 20.   
• Florida goaltender Jamie Phillips has fared well at home this season and has earned victories in all four of his starts. The Michigan Tech product has a 1.50 GAA and a .946 save percentage at Hertz Arena and has allowed two goals or fewer in all four starts. He helped key the series victory against South Carolina as he yielded just three goals total in a pair of wins.  
• Joe Cox was named the AMI Graphics ECHL Plus Performer of the Month for November after pacing the ECHL with a plus-minus rating of +15. He leads the Everblades and ranks second in the league in plus-minus rating this season at +16. He has been an even or better rating in all but two games.   
• On the topic of plus-minus rating, Florida has three players ranked in the top seven in the ECHL in that category — Cox, John McCarron (+15), and Logan Roe (+13).   
• Defensemen Jordon Southorn and Derek Sheppard have both experienced a good deal of offensive success. Among ECHL defensemen, Southorn is third in scoring (17 pts.) and second in assists (15), while Sheppard is fourth in goals (6) and tied for the league lead in power-play goals (4). 

Next Up The Everblades start a two-game series with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Hertz Arena. Friday night will be the first of 10 meetings between the two teams this season. 

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Single-game tickets for all regular season home games are on sale now!Ticket packages for the 2018-19 season are still on sale! Become part of the Everblades Family with a Partial Season or a Flexible Voucher Package that fits your schedule and budget! All Ticket & Voucher Packages provide savings and special benefits! To view the Ticket & Voucher Package options CLICK HERE. SPECIAL OFFER! Purchase a new ticket package for the 2018-19 season and receive a $20 gift card to Ford’s Garage and an Everblades T-Shirt!Private Arena Tours are also available to select your 2018-19 season seats! Call the Everblades office at 239-948-7825 to schedule your tour today! 

The Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes