PREVIEW: 'Blades face second straight midweek test against Icemen

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Everblades (13-7-1-2, 29 pts.) start their third consecutive three-game week with a midweek road matchup against the Jacksonville Icemen (7-9-4-0, 18 pts.) on Wednesday night at Veterans Memorial Arena. 

VITALS:Game 24: Everblades at Jacksonville IcemenWhen: 7 p.m. ETWhere: Veterans Memorial ArenaWatch: ECHL TVListen: WJBX (101.5 FM, 104.3 FM, 770 AM)Social: Twitter | Instagram

Last time outTrailing by two goals with less than three minutes left in regulation, Florida scored twice in only 85 seconds to force overtime in the series finale with the South Carolina Stingrays on Saturday at Hertz Arena. Justin Auger then found the back of the net with 1:18 to play in the extra session to give Florida a 3-2 win. South Carolina's Dan DeSalvo struck with 3:52 remaining in the third to put the Stingrays up 2-0, but Blake Winiecki jump-started Florida's comeback exactly one minute later before Logan Roe tied it with 1:27 to play. Florida goaltender Ken Appleby finished with 29 saves to earn his eighth win. RECAP | BOX SCORE

Series At A GlanceWednesday is the third of 13 total matchups between Florida and Jacksonville this season and the second of five meetings at Veterans Memorial Arena. Although the Icemen have won each of the first two tilts this year, Florida still has a commanding 22-4-3 record in the all-time series, which dates back to the Icemen's first season in the ECHL in 2017-18. The 'Blades have posted a 9-3-2 record in Jacksonville and finished with a 3-3-1 mark in seven regular season games at Veterans Memorial Arena last season.  

Players to WatchLogan Roe (FLA) - Roe's goal on Saturday brought him within one goal of his career-high, which he achieved with seven scores in 54 games in the 2017-18 campaign. His six goals this year are tied for the league lead among defensemen. In his fifth season with Florida, Roe sits tied for fifth among ECHL blueliners with 17 points, while his plus-minus rating of +16 is third overall in the league and first among defensemen.  

Everett Clark (JAX) –  The third-year pro has spent his entire pro career with the Icemen starting with the franchise's inaugural season in 2017-18. Clark has played in 119 contests for Jacksonville in that three-year span, tabbing 25 goals and 58 points. A native of Whitby, Ontario, Clark is tied for third on the team with four goals this season, with his most recent goal coming against Florida last Wednesday, a tally that forced overtime in Jacksonville's 3-2 shootout win. 

Overtime OmnipotenceSince dropping their first five overtime affairs last season, the 'Blades have put up an 11-1 record in their last 12 games decided in OT. The only loss in that 12-game stretch over the last two seasons was on Nov. 27 against Utah, a game the Grizzlies won with a power-play goal in OT. 

What are the Chances?Auger has scored two overtime goals in his two seasons with the Everblades. Coincidentally, both of Auger's overtime strikes came in games where Florida trailed by multiple goals in the third period and went on to tie the game in the last 90 seconds of regulation. In fact, Florida has had only two games in the last two seasons where it has trailed by two goals in the third period and forced overtime by scoring in the last 90 seconds. 

Winning WaysSince Ralph took the reins in the 2016-17 season, Florida has piled up 162 wins, the most by any ECHL team in that four-year stretch. Only Toledo, which has 154 wins since 2016-17, is within even 10 victories of that figure. The next-highest win total among South Division teams since 2016-17 is South Carolina's 140 victories. 

Next UpFollowing Wednesday's tilt, Florida hosts the Kansas City Mavericks on Friday and Saturday in its only home set against a Mountain Division foe this season. 

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The Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Nashville Predators and AHL's Milwaukee Admirals