The Jacksonville Icemen cooled off the Newfoundland Growlers Wednesday night, ending the ECHL expansion team’s lengthy winning streak with a 2-0 shutout.
The Growlers (13-6-0) entered Wednesday having won eight straight, but for the first time in 19 games, didn’t score a goal as Jacksonville netminder Mikhail Berdin stopped all 25 shots he faced.
Kris Newbury, who began his pro career in 2003 with the American Hockey League’s St. John’s Maple Leafs, got what would stand as the game-winning goal five minutes into the second period, while Maxime Fortier got an insurance marker for Jacksonville (11-5-0) later in the frame on a delayed decision.
Newfoundland’s Michael Garteig had made a glove save on the play, but it was later ruled the puck crossed the goal line when he fell back into the net.
Garteig stopped 21 shots.
Assistant John Snowden was in charge of the Growlers’ bench for a third straight game as head coach Ryane Clowe remains sidelined indefinitely for medical reasons.
In all, Clowe has missed a half dozen games this season with what’s suspected are symptoms connected to concussions he suffered as an NHL player.
The Growlers remain in Florida, finishing up a five-game road trip Friday and Saturday with matchups against the Solar Bears.
