Icemen Beat Atlanta 4-3 in Overtime: Ambrosio Wins It After the Gladiators Tie It Late
Jacques Bouquot scored twice, Atlanta erased a 3-1 deficit in the third period, and Colby Ambrosio's overtime goal gave Jacksonville back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
The Jacksonville Icemen survived a late Atlanta push to beat the Gladiators 4-3 in overtime on Saturday at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, the club reported. Jacques Bouquot scored twice for Jacksonville, Tim Heinke added a goal, and goaltender Michael Bullion made 23 saves in the win.
Jacksonville built the game in the first two periods. Bouquot opened the scoring on the Icemen's first power play, rifling a snap shot home off a cross-ice pass from Tanner Kelly — the club's second straight power-play goal dating back to Friday night — before Atlanta tied it late in the first. In the second, Heinke buried a rebound in the crease to restore the lead, and minutes later Bouquot one-timed a faceoff win from Jesse Tucker for his second of the game and a 3-1 lead.
Atlanta took the third period back. A Gladiators power-play goal was upheld after a lengthy review to make it 3-2, and with the goaltender pulled, Atlanta tied the game 3-3 with 48 seconds remaining in regulation — sending Jacksonville into overtime for the second time this weekend and the fourth time in five games.
Bullion made three critical saves in overtime to keep the game tied, and Ambrosio finished it: he raced the puck up ice, exchanged passes with Drew Kuzma, and wired a shot blocker-side past the Atlanta netminder for his second goal of the season. The Icemen have now won back-to-back games for the first time this season and end October at 2-2-2. They host the Savannah Ghost Pirates on home ice Tuesday morning at 10 a.m.
