JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears (10-6-1-0) open a home-and-home series with the Jacksonville Icemen (8-7-1-1) this evening at 7 p.m. at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. The Solar Bears are 2-1-0-0 against the Icemen this season. Orlando has a chance to move past Florida (game tonight vs. Trois-Rivières Lions) into first place in the South Division.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Goaltender Zach Émond is expected to start tonight. He picked up the win against Jacksonville in his lone appearance against the Icemen on Oct. 31, a 5-4 overtime win, in which the rookie netminder made 19 saves on 23 shots against.
- The Solar Bears are 9-0-0-0 when scoring first.
- Joe Garreffa enters tonight’s game with a three-game point streak (3g-1a). He is expected to play in his 50th career game with the Solar Bears, and his 75th as a professional. He is three points away from 50 in his pro career.
- Orlando is 2-for-7 (28.6%) with the man advantage against Jacksonville.
- Jackson Keane leads Orlando with three assists against the Icemen.
- The Solar Bears can match the team’s 2013-14 squad for the fastest 11 wins in team history (18 games) with a victory tonight.
NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears return home to host the Icemen on Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center for Mental Health Awareness Night, presented by AdventHealth. The game also serves as Thirsty Thursday, featuring $5 domestic draft beer specials during the game.