Blades Again Erase Two-Goal Deficit; Down Gladiators 5-2
March 19, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
DULUTH, GA - The Florida Everblades (34-27-4) won their second straight game over the Gwinnett Gladiators (29-29-7) after falling behind by two goals thanks to a pair of goals each from Matt Beca and Elgin Reid in a 5-2 victory on Saturday night at The Arena at Gwinnett Center. The win was Florida's fifth straight over Gwinnett.
A wild opening 20 minutes saw each team tally a pair of goals. Just like in Friday night's game, it was the Gladiators to opened the scoring with the game's first two goals. In eerily similar fashion to Friday night, Gwinnett tallied their goals in a span of less than 30 seconds, with the first marker coming on the power play at 3:35. Dustin Cameron collected a rebound off Everblades goalie Bobby Goepfert at the top of the crease before lifting home his seventh goal of the year to open the scoring.
Just 25 seconds later the Gladiators jumped out to a 2-0 lead after Michael Forney stripped the puck in the neutral zone before racing in on the right side and cutting across the top of the crease where he slipped the puck past a sprawling Goepfert.
The Everblades however kept their composure and eventually took advantage of a couple power play chances of their own. The first came at the 10:54 mark on a play that saw Cedric McNicoll work the puck into the zone on the left side boards before sliding across to Matt Beca in the right circle. After settling the puck Beca fired a wrist shot just inside the left post for his 19th goal of the season. Alex Imbeault also collected an assist on the tally.
Late in the period the Everblades evened the score with Beca's second power play goal of the contest. With just 33 seconds remaining the period when the man-advantage began, the Everblades had to work quickly, which they did. After an initial shot from Elgin Reid deflected to the right corner, Imbeault swooped after the puck and fed a pass to Beca along the left boards. Beca's intention was to get a cross-ice pass back to Imbeault, but the puck ricocheted off a Gladiator defender and through the pads of Gwinnett goaltender Chris Carrozzi with 23 seconds remaining in the period.
The Everblades then grabbed the lead with the only goal of the second period at the 14:01 mark. With Gwinnett pressuring the offensive zone, McNicoll and rookie Scott Pitt teamed up to get the puck out of the zone on the right side before Pitt raced ahead to start a 3-on-1 rush. Pitt fired a hard pass across to Reid in the left circle where he rifled home his seventh goal of year. The assist for Pitt was his first professional point.
Leading by a goal entering the third period the Everblades got the insurance they were looking for on Imbeault's team-leading 34th goal of the year at 5:17. As a penalty was expiring to Florida defenseman Brad Good, the rookie who was just signed earlier this week, jumped out of the box and poked the puck free from the Gladiators allowing Imbeault to scoop up the puck at center ice and skate to the top of the right circle where he lasered a shot into the upper left corner of the net.
As Gwinnett continued to turn up the heat, the Everblades maintained their two-goal lead thanks to strong goaltending by Goepfert who stopped all 14 shots he faced in the third period. Then late in the frame with the teams skating at 4-on-4 Ross Carlson led the puck out of the zone to Reid who brought the puck in on the left side. With Carlson going hard to the net, Reid looked off the defense before firing a wrist shot into the upper right corner of the net at 17:21.
In goal Goepfert again stood tall, making 42 saves to improve his record to 23-12-3. Carrozzi saw his record fall to 16-17-5 after allowing the five goals on 27 shots.
On the power play, the Everblades closed out the game 2-of-5, while Gwinnett closed out the night 1-of-6 on the man-advantage.
The Everblades return to action on Sunday, March 20 when they take the Gwinnett Gladiators at 4:05 p.m. from The Arena at Gwinnett Center. The Everblades' next home game is Wednesday, March 23 when they host the Wheeling Nailers at 7:30 p.m. from Germain Arena. Visit www.floridaeverblades.comand www.germainarena.comfor more information on ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.
Individual tickets to all 2010-11 Florida Everblades home games are on sale now! Tickets are available at the TIB Bank Box Office Monday - Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 2 p.m. Fans can also purchase tickets through TicketMaster by logging onto www.ticketmaster.comor calling 800-745-3000.
Bud Light 3 Stars:
1 - Matt Beca - FLA
2 - Cedric McNicoll - FLA
3 - Alex Imbeault - FLA
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