ECHL Florida Everblades

'Blades drop 4-3 heartbreaker to Gwinnett

Published on January 19, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


DULUTH, GA -The Florida Everblades (24-12-0) came up just short in a 4-3 contest to the Gwinnett Gladiators (23-12-4) on Friday night at Your Best Home Rate Home Ice in front of a crowd of 4,406.

The Everblades opened the game strong and scored the first goal of the night with a power play tally midway through the first period. With Florida on their first power play of the night, Chris Dyment fired a one-time shot past Gwinnett net minder Dan Turple at 8:22 to give the 'Blades a 1-0 lead. Jon Lehun and Ernie Hartlieb assisted on Dyment's fourth goal of the season.

A wild second period saw the Gladiators tally three straight to open a 3-1 seven minutes into the frame. Jon Awe put Gwinnett on the board with a power play goal just 54 seconds into the period to tie the game at one. The goal was Awe's 20th of the season and 17th on the power play. Gwinnett then exploded for a pair of goals just eight seconds apart. Scott Lehman began the scoring blitz with his first goal of the season by beating Everblades goalie Craig Kowalski from the top of the right circle. On the ensuing faceoff, the Gladiators dumped the puck in and with Kowalski scrambling from behind the net Brad Schell tallied his 18th goal of the season to open a 3-1 lead.

The Everblades however chipped away at the lead and trimmed the score to 3-2 with his fourth goal of the season at 15:05. MacDonald's rush began from his own end and ended with him lifting a shot over the stick hand of Turple and just under the cross bar. Initially the goal was waved off by the referee, but after conferring with the goal judge, who put the light on, changed his call to a goal. Steve Czech collected the lone assist on the goal.

The game remained 3-2 into the late stages of the third period until Ernie Hartlieb notched his first goal of the season with 4:37 remaining in regulation by banging a loose puck at the left post past Turple to tie the game at three. Dyment and Adam Taylor assisted on the even strength goal. The jubilation for the Everblades however was short lived as Andy Contois regained the lead for Gwinnett just 45 seconds later by wristing a shot from the high slot over Kowalski's glove. Despite a furious effort by the Everblades over the final 20 seconds, they could not find the tying goal.

Kowalski suffered the loss for the Everblades allowing the four goals on 44 shots to see his record fall to 13-7-0, while Turple raised his record to 12-7-2 by turning away 27 of 30 shots.

On the power play, the Everblades finished off the night 1-for-5, while the Gladiators closed out the night 1-for-4.

The Florida Everblades, proud affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers, return to action on Saturday, January 20 when they take on the Gwinnett Gladiators at 7:35 p.m. from Duluth, GA. Florida Everblades group and individual game tickets & mini-plans are now available! Reserve your seat for all the exciting action today by calling (239) 948-7825. Visit www.floridaeverblades.com and www.germainarena.com for more information on group ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.

Three Stars:

1) Jon Awe - GWI

2) Andy Contois - GWI

3) Scott Lehman - GWI

Check out the Florida Everblades Statistics

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ECHL Stories from January 19, 2007


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