'Blades drop pre-season opener 4-2 to Texas
October 13, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades (0-1-0) dropped their pre-season opener 4-2 to the Texas Wildcatters (1-0-0) on Friday night before a crowd of 4,471 at Germain Arena. The Wildcatters picked up 18 saves from goaltender Matt Yeats and a pair of goals by Daniel Sparre to up-end the Everblades.
Despite the Everblades having the first four power play chances on the night, it was the Wildcatters that tallied first in the contest when Casey Lee beat Everblades rookie goaltender David Shantz with a short-handed tally at 11:01 of the first period of play. The Everblades however didn't take long to tie the game at one when rookie Mike Angelidis collected a power play goal at 13:12 of the opening frame. In all, the teams combined for nine power play chances in the first period, but the clubs remained tied at one after 20 minutes of play.
The Everblades scored the lone second period goal when long-time 'Blade Brent McDonald beat Yeats with a wrist shot on a breakaway at 4:36 of the middle frame giving Florida a 2-1 lead. Midway through the second period, the Everblades swapped goaltenders, seeing Shantz leave after stopping 19 of 20 shots in the 29:54 played and giving way to Kevin Nastiuk, who stopped all four shots he faced in the frame.
In the third period Texas stormed their way back into the game and into the lead with three goals over the final 11 minutes. Sparre tallied his first of the night at 9:24 and Luis Tremblay gave the Wildcatters the lead for good at 14:38 beating Nastiuk inside the right post on a rebound. Sparre closed out the scoring by slipping a shot into an empty Everblades net with just five seconds remaining in regulation.
Nastiuk suffered the loss for the Everblades allowing two goals on the 18 shots he faced in his 29:19 played, and Yeats picked up the win by stopping 18 of 20 shots faced.
On the power play, Florida finished the night 1-for-11, while the Wildcatters closed out the night 0-for-15 with the man-advantage.
The Florida Everblades, proud affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers, begin the 2006-07 season on Friday, October 20 when they host the Texas Wildcatters at 7:30 p.m. at Germain Arena. Florida Everblades full season 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.
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