'Blades Fall in Tight Battle with Elmira
December 7, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, FL - Mike Radja scored the tying and winning goals in the third period to help lead the Elmira Jackals to 5-4 victory over the Florida Everblades Wednesday night at Germain Arena.
The Jackals wasted little time grabbing the lead, scoring a goal in the first 14 seconds of the game. The Jackals directed a shot off the shoulder of goaltender Pat Nagle which flipped high up in the air and landed in the crease between Nagle's skates. Rob Bellamy crashed the net and poked the puck into the net for the goal.
Florida tied things up halfway though the first on sniper type shot from David Rutherford on the power play, to send the game into the first break with a 1-1 score.
The two teams combined for six goals in the third period, including registering five goals in a two minute and fifty-seven second span. The two teams traded off four goals during that stretch, which included the first ECHL goal for longtime NHL defenseman Craig Rivet. The four goal output tied the game three at the 5:53 mark of the second.
Florida took the lead on the fifth goal of that stretch on a dazzling goal by Luc Tardif, who danced around defenders and flipped a backhand shot high over a diving Elmira goaltender in Brian Stewart. The goal was the fifth of the season for Tardif, who gave his team a 4-3 lead at the 5:53 mark of the period.
Elmira used the power play to tie the game at four, as Mike Radja netted a goal hammering a one-time blast on the backside past Nagle.
After an apparent Everblades goal was waived off, Radja struck again moments later breaking into the zone and lifting a shot high into the net for the go-ahead goal at 14:49 of the period. The score would hold up, and the Jackals earned their sixth consecutive victory.
Nagle takes the loss allowing five goals on 19 shots, while the Brian Stewart earns his ninth win of the season stopping 25 of 29 shots faced.
BLADES NOTES: On Wednesday the Everblades announced that forward Mike McKenzie was called up to the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League while goaltender John Muse was recalled by the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) earlier this morning....Florida added forward Lucas LaBelle who took part in the 'Blades training camp this year. LaBelle comes to Florida after posting 7 points (4g, 3a) and 16 penalty minutes in 16 games with the Augusta RiverHawks of the Southern Professional Hockey League.
The two teams will meet again this Friday beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday is Toys for Tots Night. Bring a new unwrapped toy, and receive a buy one get one free ticket offer for that game.
To purchase tickets stop by any Ticketmaster outlet, or the Capital Bank Box Office at Germain Arena. The Capital Bank Box Office is open Monday thru Friday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Fans may also call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or order online at www.ticketmaster.com
Group ticket packages are also available! Call the Everblades hockey headquarters at 239-948-7825 to order your seats. Visit the Florida Everblades at www.floridaeverblades.com for more information on ticket prices and packages. For upcoming events at Germain Arena, visit their website at www.germainarena.com .
ECHL Stories from December 7, 2011
- Idaho Suffers Frustrating Setback - Idaho Steelheads
- 'Blades Fall in Tight Battle with Elmira - Florida Everblades
- Eagles Score Four Unanswered in 4-2 Win Over Idaho - Colorado Eagles
- Express Derail Wings 4-1 - Chicago Express
- Jackals Take Back-And-Forth Contest over Everblades - Elmira Jackals
- Express Defeats K-Wings - Kalamazoo Wings
- Nailers Win Donatelli's Debut in Trenton - Wheeling Nailers
- Goaltender Marc Owuya Assigned to Reading - Reading Royals
- ECHL Transactions - December 7 - ECHL
- Thomas McCollum Headed Back to Toledo - Toledo Walleye
- Texas Sends Defenseman to Idaho - Idaho Steelheads
- Local Products Cucci, Motherwell Join the Express - Chicago Express
- Jackals Game Preview: Elmira at Florida - Elmira Jackals
- Game Preview: Express Vs. Kalamazoo Tonight - Chicago Express
- Allen York Returns to Express - Chicago Express
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- ECHL Today - December 7 - ECHL
- Nailers Game Preview: Wheeling Nailers Vs. Trenton Titans - Wheeling Nailers
- Jackals Weekly - Elmira Jackals
- ECHL's Best: #1 Alaska, #2 Utah Collide Again in Anchorage this Week - Utah Grizzlies
- Wranglers Secure 4-2 Win Over Stockton Thunder - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Thunder sees 3-0-1 run at Orleans Arena come to an end - Stockton Thunder
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