WHO: Florida Everblades (24-6-3-1) vs. Jacksonville Icemen (14-17-1-0)
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ESTERO, Fla. – After earning a pair of decisive victories, the Florida Everblades will look to complete a series sweep of the Jacksonville Icemen when the puck drops at 7:00 p.m. ET at Hertz Arena for Golden Ticket Night presented by Arthrex.
Florida has controlled the series so far, outscoring Jacksonville 10-3 through two games with a 5–2 win Wednesday night and continued their dominance Friday skating to a 5-1 victory.
Friday night, Florida dictated the pace from the opening faceoff, scoring both goals in the opening frame. Reid Duke opened the scoring before Jesse Lansdell added a late first-period tally to give the Everblades an early 2–0 advantage. Duke has now scored a goal in three of his last four games, while Lansdell has recorded three points over his last two contests.
Holden Wale scored the lone goal for the Icemen with an early second-period marker, accounting for two of Jacksonville’s three goals in the series.
Craig Needham continued his torrid stretch offensively, restoring Florida’s two-goal lead with his eighth goal in his last nine games. The Everblades seized full control from there, striking for the final three goals of the contest. Needham’s power-play marker also snapped a seven-game scoreless drought with the man advantage on home ice. Special teams proved pivotal, as Anthony Romano added a shorthanded goal in the third period, marking the fifth time this season Florida has scored both a power-play and shorthanded goal in the same game.
Will Cranley was once again brilliant in goal, earning his 11th consecutive start victory after turning aside 23 of 24 shots. Cranley has now set a new career high with 12 wins this season and has allowed two goals or fewer in 10 of his 13 starts.
Brad Ralph’s group has been excellent on home ice, posting a 9-0-1 record in its last 10 games at Hertz Arena and sitting atop the Eastern Conference with 52 points. On the other side, Jacksonville enters action tied for sixth in the South Division with 29 points and has gone just 2-8 in its last 10 road games.
Following tonight’s contest, the Everblades head back on the road for a three-in-three weekend beginning Friday, January 23, in Greenville, with puck drop set for 7:05 p.m. ET from Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
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