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Florida Everblades

Checkers' Five-Goal Third Dooms Everblades

December 31, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - For the second consecutive game a five-goal, third-period outburst by the Charlotte Checkers (16-12-2) doomed the Florida Everblades (19-8-2) and sent them to their third straight loss in a 5-1 defeat at Germain Arena. The win was Charlotte's season-high fifth straight and their third over the Everblades in four games this season.

The game opened with the clubs playing to a scoreless tie after both goaltenders came up with big saves as the Everblades out-shot the Checkers 11-8. In the second period the Everblades tallied the game's opening goal when Andrew Sweetland notched his second goal of the season at 8:18.

The play began with Colin Nicholson carrying the puck into the zone on the left wing before swinging behind the net. As he looked to stuff the puck past Checkers goaltender Jeff Jakaitis at the right post, the puck rolled off his stick to Sweetland in the slot where he fired it into the open net. Ryan McGinnis added an assist on the marker.

As the third period began the Checkers quickly tied the score at one when Matthew Ford tallied his team-leading 13th goal of the season with a wrist shot from the bottom of the right circle over the should of Everblades net-minder Anton Khudobin just 2:25 into the period.

Charlotte then took advantage of Khudobin misplaying the puck behind his net at 6:07 on Peter-James Corsi's first goal of the night. Corsi then made it a 3-1 Charlotte lead at 8:17 with his third goal of the year completing a 2-on-1 rush by tucking the puck inside the right post.

Just over two minutes later the Checkers took a firm grasp on the game when David Rutherford stuffed the puck from behind the net between the pads of Khudobin at the left post at 10:54. Charlotte drove the final nail home with a power play goal at 16:40 when Michel Leveille finished off a quick passing play from the inside of the right circle for his third goal of the year.

In goal Khudobin dropped to 11-5-1 after allowing the five goals on 23 shots, while Jakaitis improved to 3-0-0 vs. Florida this season and 10-5-2 overall after turning away 30 of 31 shots.

On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 0-of-6, while Charlotte closed out the game 1-of-7.

BEWARE OF THE BITE! Action You Can Sink Your Teeth Into! Individual tickets to all Everblades home games are on sale now! Visit the Germain Arena Box Office M-F from 10-6 to purchase tickets, or order online at www.ticketmaster.com. Visit www.floridaeverblades.com and www.germainarena.com or call 239-948-PUCK for more information on group ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.

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