Florida Sports Wires

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Josh Zary scored his first professional goal and Keaton Mastrodonato hit pay dirt on the power play, but the Jacksonville Icemen struck twice in the final minute, including Craig Martin’s winner with 22.5 to play, to steal a win from the Greenville Swamp Rabbits 3-2 on Sunday afternoon. The loss drops the Swamp Rabbits elimination number to 14 with 11 games to go. The Swamp Rabbits jumped on the board first, carrying a lead into the intermission on a career milestone. Just 2:28 into the game, Josh Zary notched his first professional goal, tapping a rebound created off a John Parker-Jones redirect past Topias Leinonen to give the Swamp Rabbits a 1-0 lead (Parker-Jones and Cole Fraser assisted). Jacksonville halved the game in the second, but were once again answered heading into the final stanza. With 8:23 to play, Dave Jankowski snuck behind the Swamp Rabbits defense on a breakaway and rifled a shot that bounced off the crossbar, off Swamp Rabbits goaltender Isaiah ...

Photo by Nancy DeLander Beecher/Florida Sports Wire By Mike Bonts JACKSONVILLE (Florida Sports Wire) -- The Jacksonville Icemen (25-29-7-1) continued their ECHL playoff push Sunday afternoon with a much needed 2-1 win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (24-28-7-1) at Veterans Memorial Arena. The victory has the the Icemen just four points behind Savannah and the fourth playoff spot in the South Division. Topias Leinonen started in goal for the Icemen. He stopped 19 shots in picking up his second win since joining Jacksonville after seven starts with Rochester of the AHL.  Will Hillman, put the Icemen on the board in the first period. Tyler Kopff and Taos Jordan pick up the assists on Hillman's 14th goal of the season. Jacksonville added to their lead in the second on a shorthanded goal by Craig Martin, his 15th of the seaason. David Jankowski got the helper. Denis Smirnov spoiled the shutout on his 16th tally of the seaaon with 5:50 to play in the game. Patrick Polino and Wade Murp...

(SportsDay Photo by Nancy DeLander Beecher) J ACKSONVILLE (Florida Sports Wire) -  The Jacksonville Icemen (27-13-1), riding a five-game ECHL winning streak, dropped a 2-0 decision to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (23-11-7) Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Arena. Greenville's Justin Nachbaur (3) took advantage of a loose puck in front of the Jacksonville net to score the first goal of the game. Max Martin (5) made it 2-0 with 6:25 to play in the opening period. Charles Williams made 36 saves in the net for the Icemen. Ryan Bednard stopped 24 shots for the Swamp Rabbits. The second place Icemen remain two points out of first in the Southern Division after first place Florida lost to Orlando in overtime Saturday.  Jacksonville was shutout for the second time this season. The Icemen killed off a 5 on 3 power play in the third.  Neither scored on a combined seven power plays. The Icemen and Swamp Rabbits meet  again Sunday in Greenville. ---Mike Bonts