Blades clinch playoff spot with 4-1 win over Sea Wolves
Published on March 7, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades (40-16-3) locked up a playoff spot on Saturday night with their 4-1 win over the Mississippi Sea Wolves (25-27-7). The win was the Everblades' fifth straight overall and eighth straight over Mississippi this season as Florida pounded the Sea Wolves net with 54 shots.
Similar to Friday night's game the Everblades and Sea Wolves played a scoreless first 20 minutes with the Everblades out-shooting Mississippi 20-11. Also like Friday night the Everblades eventually broke through with a second period goal late in the frame to carry a 1-0 lead into the second intermission.
After having a goal disallowed just moments prior, the Everblades moved the puck into the zone as Peter Metcalf dumped the puck into the left corner. A.J. Thelen chased onto the puck before centering it for Mathieu Roy, who's deflection was stopped by Mississippi goal tender John Murray. The puck however slid back onto the stick of Metcalf who whipped a wrist shot over the outstretched glove of Murray at 15:45. The goal was Metcalf's 300th career point.
Entering the third period the Everblades began the frame with power play time. It was the Sea Wolves though that scored to tie the game at one with the short-handed goal. The play began with Jason Tejchma blocking a shot at the blue line creating a 2-on-0 rush into the Everblades zone. Mark Rooneem collected the puck in the left circle before feeding back to Tejchma who slammed his shot from the right side of the crease past Everblades net-minder David Leggio just 41 seconds into the period.
The short-handed marker was the fifth for Mississippi this season and was the eighth allowed by the Everblades this year.
Florida bounced back however to pick up the eventual game-winning goal at 5:08 on a 2-on-1 rush by Ross Carlson and Roy. Carlson began the play into the right circle before feeding a perfect pass to Roy at the left post where he deflected home his 20th goal of the season.
The Everblades kept the pressure on, en-route to out-shooting the Sea Wolves 20-4 in the third period, and found some insurance at 7:29 when Patrick Bordeleau tapped home a loose puck behind Murray after Mark Lee's slap shot from the left circle snuck behind him. The goal was Bordeleau's ninth of the season and was also assisted by Danick Bouchard.
Steve McJannet sealed the win with an empty net goal from center ice with 1:01 left in regulation. The goal was McJannet's fourth of the season and was assisted by Bordeleau.
In net Leggio notched his fifth straight win and improved to 22-6-1 by turning away 23 of 24 shots. Murray, who was making his first start with Mississippi, took the loss allowing three goals on 53 shots.
On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 0-of-1, while Sea Wolves closed out the game 0-of-4.
ECHL Stories from March 7, 2009
- Chiefs slip against Nailers - Johnstown Chiefs
- Steelheads complete sweep of Salmon Kings with 4-1 win - Idaho Steelheads
- Wheeling wins over Chiefs - Wheeling Nailers
- Victoria falls to Idaho 4-1. - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Royals Blanked by Cincy (Again), 5-0 - Reading Royals
- Blades clinch playoff spot with 4-1 win over Sea Wolves - Florida Everblades
- Gladiators Dump Devils 5-4 in Shootout - Atlanta Gladiators
- Sea Wolves fall 4-1 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Devils Go Down to Georgia to Lose in a Shootout, 5-4 - Trenton Devils
- Cyclones' Three Goal Third Period Ices 5-0 Win - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Jackals vs Bombers Postponed - Elmira Jackals
- After 65 Scoreless Minutes, Stingrays Prevail Over Checkers in Shootout 1-0 - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Dayton, Elmira Game Canceled - ECHL
- Checkers Stonewalled By Stingrays In Shootout, Lose 1-0 - Charlotte Checkers
- Reading Acquires Forward Mike Curry - Reading Royals
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Utah Grizzlies - Stockton Thunder
- Nailers Go For Second Straight Win Over Chiefs Tonight - Wheeling Nailers
- Game Preview: Ontario Reign Vs Bakersfield Condors - Ontario Reign
- Johnstown's Hendrikx Suspended One Game, Fined - ECHL
- Game Preview: Rays Host Charlotte Today - South Carolina Stingrays
- Johnstown's Penner Suspended Two Games, Fined - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Stingrays Sign Forward Kashirsky - South Carolina Stingrays
- Vegas Ends Two Streaks With Win In Alaska - Alaska Aces
- Huddy's three assists not enough for Thunder - Stockton Thunder
- Wranglers End Streak, Edge Aces 2-1 for Win - Las Vegas Wranglers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
