ECHL Florida Everblades

Blades Come-Back Falls Short, Fall 4-3 to Royals

Published on December 30, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


READING, PA - The Florida Everblades (20-13-1) almost pulled of a miraculous third period come-back for the second consecutive game, but their third period effort was erased allowing the Reading Royals (20-9-1) to picked up a 4-3 win on Thursday night at the Sovereign Center.

Just as they did on Tuesday night, the Royals opened the game's scoring when captain Ryan Cruthers notched his 12th goal of the year at 7:05 of the first period. The play began with Chris Blight working the puck down the right side boards to the corner where he fired a centering pass into the slot where Cruthers one-timed a quick shot past Everblades goaltender Bobby Goepfert.

The Everblades managed to even the score early in the second period just after the conclusion of their second power play of the night. Following their man-advantage, the Everblades kept the pressure on and saw Mike McKenzie set up the play with a pass from the right circle to Kyle Lawson in the left circle. Lawson them quickly found Cedric McNicoll at the bottom of the right circle where he lifted a shot over Royals net-minder Michael Hutchinson at 2:36.

Despite keeping the pressure on, the Everblades saw the Royals snag the lead back at 8:05 when a long slap shot by Ben Gordon from the blue line got past Goepfert to give Reading a 2-1 advantage.

The Royals then extended their lead to 3-1 at the tail end of a 5-on-3 power play. It looked as though the Everblades were going to kill off the two man advantage, but a dump in by Reading on the right side, clanged off a glass support in the corner and bounced to the goal mouth where a scrum for the puck ended with Casey Haines poking the puck past Goepfert for his fifth goal of the season at 11:14.

Just as they did on Tuesday night against the Royals, the Everblades used a pair of third period power play goals to tie the game at three late in regulation. The first of the power play markers came at the 2:05 mark after Alex Imbeault whipped a wrist shot from the high slot past Hutchinson for his team-leading 17th goal of the year. Matt Beca and Mitch Fadden tacked on the assists on Imbeault's 10th power play marker of the year.

Late in the frame, the Everblades once again took advantage of a power play opportunity to event the score at three. This time a nice passing play that began with McKenzie feeding the puck from the right corner to Ross Carlson in the right circle. Carlson quickly touched pass to McNicoll, also in the circle, who rifled a quick one-time shot past Hutchinson for his second tally of the night and fourth of the season with 3:38 remaining in regulation.

The celebration however was cut short as less than a minute later Cruthers tallied his second goal of the night after taking a pass at the inside of the right circle from Yannick Riendeau and one-timing a low shot between the pads of Goepfert at 17:14.

Goepfert ended up seeing his record fall to 12-7-1 after allowing the four goals on 29 shots. Hutchinson picked up the win in his first start with the Royals after turning away 35 of 38 Florida shots.

On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 2-of-4, while Reading closed out the game 1-of-5.

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.

The Everblades return to action on Friday, December 31 when they travel to Trenton to take on the Devils at 5:00 p.m. from Sun National Bank Center. The Everblades' next home game is Wednesday, January 5 when they host the defending Kelly Cup Champion Cincinnati Cyclones at 7:30 p.m. Visit www.floridaeverblades.comand www.germainarena.comfor more information on ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.

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ECHL Stories from December 30, 2010


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