'Blades even series with double OT win over Stingrays
Published on May 2, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
CHARLESTON, SC - The Florida Everblades drew even in their best-of-seven South Division Final series with the South Carolina Stingrays thanks to a 3-2 double overtime victory in Game 4 on Saturday night at the North Charleston Coliseum. The win also assured the series of returning to Southwest Florida for Game 6 on Tuesday, May 5.
Mark Lee provided the heroics scoring on a rebound off a Kevin Baker shot at 12:19 of the second overtime, sending the Florida bench spilling onto the ice in celebration. Lee's fourth goal of the playoffs came on Florida's second power play of the second overtime period after Nikita Kashirsky was whistled for a delay of game penalty for shooting the puck over the glass from the defensive zone.
The Everblades made the Stingrays pay, as Baker paired up with Matt Duffy to keep the puck into the zone on the left side of the ice. Baker then worked free to the top of the left circle where he whipped a shot on net that goaltender James Reimer stopped, but allowed the rebound to slide out to the inside part of the left circle where Lee reached and slung a wrist shot into the net.
The goal for Lee was fitting because in the first overtime period he prevented South Carolina from winning as his self-less diving effort across the open net to block a shot off his chin kept Jeff Corey from sending the Stingrays to a 3-1 series lead.
The Everblades opened the game the way they wanted to dominating the first 15 minutes of the contest and jumping out to a 1-0 lead while out-shooting South Carolina 13-4. The Stingrays however rebounded over the final five minutes of the frame tying the game and out-shooting Florida 7-0.
The game's first goal came on a rebound chance by Milan Gajic from the left side of the crease. The play originated with Ross Carlson slipping a pass to Duffy in the middle of the ice at the blue line. Duffy let a shot go to the net that Reimer stopped, but the rebound kicked to his right where Gajic scooped up the loose puck and lifted it under the cross bar at 8:07. The goal was Gajic's third of the post-season.
South Carolina worked their way back into the contest converting on their second power play of the night. As they scored twice in Game 3, the Stingrays got traffic in front of David Leggio and Zach Tarkir's shot from the blue line deflected off Jeff Corey and into the net at 17:29.
After evening the score, the Stingrays came right back at the Everblades leading to a turning point when Florida's Brad Herauf was whistled for a spearing major and a game misconduct with 1:18 remaining in the opening period.
The Everblades penalty killers stepped up killing off the Stingrays five-minute power play, then went to work offensively before regaining the lead when Carlson's slap shot from the top of circle found its way past Reimer and under the cross bar at 13:34. Carlson's seventh playoff goal came off assists by A.J. Thelen and Kevin Baker.
The euphoria of the goal however didn't last long as the Stingrays answered the goal less than two-minutes later after Corey slammed home his second goal of the night at 14:50. The play developed with Trent Campbell working the puck loose from the left corner to Pierre-Luc O'Brien. O'Brien then walked to the left side of the crease before feeding Corey with a perfect pass at the right post.
Both teams battled to a tight, but scoreless third period, sending the game to overtime for the second time in the series. The Everblades had the majority of the third period chances, out-shooting South Carolina 7-6. The best chances for Florida came on a pair of power plays, but Reimer and the Stingrays kept the Everblades off the board.
In the first overtime South Carolina had the first good chance to find the game-winner with a power play opportunity just 21 seconds into the frame. The Everblades however came up big, keeping the Stingrays off the board. The Everblades then came with strong chances of their own in the final minutes of overtime, but couldn't find a way to net the game-winner.
In goal Leggio improved to 6-3 by stopping 33 of 35 shots, while Reimer saw his record fall to 1-2 after allowing the three goals on 43 shots.
With the win, the Everblades improved to 2-2 in overtime games during the playoffs, while South Carolina dropped to 1-1.
On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 1-of-7, while the Stingrays closed out the game 1-of-6.
Tickets for Game 6 of the South Division Finals will go on-sale on Monday, May 4 at 10:00 a.m. Fans can purchase tickets for Game "E" at the Germain Arena Box Office from 10-6, Monday - Friday or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
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