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Florida Everblades

Blades finish off regular season with 4-1 win over Mississippi

April 5, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades (49-17-5) ended the regular season with a 4-1 win over the Mississippi Sea Wolves (28-35-8) on Saturday night at Germain Arena. The win was Florida's eighth straight and allowed them to post the second best record in the team's 11-year history, finishing with 103 points.

The Sea Wolves, who needed a win over the Everblades and a regulation loss by Gwinnett at Charlotte, fell behind 1-0 after one period, and then saw their playoff hopes dwindle after a three-goal explosion by the Everblades in the final four minutes of the second period.

Ernie Hartlieb opened the scoring for the Everblades midway through the first period after a centering pass from Jacob Micflikier ricochet off his body and into the net. The power play marker, which came at 11:24 was Hartlieb's 21st of the season and was also assisted by Peter Metcalf.

The game remained close until the late second period blitz when Milan Gajic, Andrew Sweetland and Doug O'Brien all scored in a span of four minutes and two seconds. Gajic opened a 2-0 Everblades lead with the eventual game-winning goal at 15:57after jamming home a rebound at the top of the crease for his 9th goal of the season. Kevin Baker and Mark Lee collected the assists.

Less than a minute later Sweetland deflected a point shot by Drew Paris by Sea Wolves net-minder Ryan Munce for his 10th goal of the year. The tally came on the power play with 3:07 remaining in the frame and was also assisted on by Gajic.

The trio of goals was finished off when O'Brien's slap shot from the high slot blasted past Munce with just five seconds remaining in the period. The goal was O'Brien's seventh and was helped out on by Micflikier and Ross Carlson.

As the third period progressed the Everblades choked off the Sea Wolves chances until Matt Deschamps found the back of the net with a shot from the right boards that knuckled past David Leggio at 15:55.

In goal Leggio finished off the regular season with a five-game winning streak which pushed his record to 27-7-3 after he turned away 37 of 38 shots. Munce fell to 24-24-5 after allowing the four goals on 45 shots.

On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 2-of-6, while the Sea Wolves closed out the game 0-of-5.

BEWARE OF THE BITE! Action You Can Sink Your Teeth Into! Individual tickets to Kelly Cup Playoff games "A" & "B" 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.

The Everblades return to action on Friday, April 10 when they host the Gwinnett Gladiators at 7:30 p.m. in Game 1 of the South Division semi-finals from Germain Arena.

3 Stars:

1 - David Leggio - FLA

2 - Milan Gajic - FLA

3 - Andrew Sweetland - FLA

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