ECHL Florida Everblades

'Blades finish pre-season with 4-2 win

October 11, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades completed their pre-season schedule with a 4-2 victory over the Phoenix Road Runners on Saturday night at Germain Arena, completing the weekend sweep over their western foe.

Unlike Friday night's 7-0 win over Phoenix, the Everblades had to dig and claw for the victory on Saturday night. The teams played to a scoreless first period with the Road Runners out-shooting the Everblades 12-6 in a relatively uneventful first 20 minutes.

The scoring opened in the second period when Phoenix's Andrew Desjardins intercepted a cross-ice pass in the Everblades zone and broke in on goaltender David Shantz alone. Desjardins deked and slipped the puck past the Everblades net-minder inside the left post at 2:47 for the 1-0 lead.

Florida responded midway through the period with the first of their two power play goals. Kevin Baker cashed in at 7:55 to tie the score 1-1 after completing a nice passing play. The play began with Jacob Micflikier sending a pass from behind the Phoenix net to Craig Switzer at the top of the right circle. Switzer then found Baker camped out at the bottom of the left circle and hit him with a quick pass that allowing Baker to bury the puck into the open net.

The Everblades took the lead for good late in the second period after a mental gaffe by Road Runners goalie Reto Schurch played the puck outside the trapezoid behind his net which was then compounded by another Phoenix penalty giving the 'Blades a 5-on-3 power play. At 18:18 the Everblades cashed in when Baker's shot from the high slot was deflected in by Micflikier who was camped out on the doorstep. Kyle Peto added the second assist on the tally.

After out-shooting Phoenix 20-12 in the second period the Everblades were limited to five shots in the third period, but still managed to tally a pair of goals. The first of those goals came at 1:29 when rookie Aaron Brocklehurst took a pass in the slot and wristed it past Schurch for the 3-1 lead. Andrew Fournier assisted on Brocklehurst's second goal of the pre-season.

The two-goal lead held until the closing moments of the third period when Desjardins notched his second goal of the game after jamming a loose puck at the left post past Shantz with 2:10 remaining, but the Road Runners couldn't get any closer despite having a power play in the waning moments. Colin Nicholson sealed the game with a short-handed empty net goal that came with 48 seconds remaining.

In net, Shantz picked up the win by turning away 32 of 34 shots and Schurch suffered the loss allowing the four goals on 31 shots.

On the power play, the Everblades converted on two of their ten chances, while the Road Runners finished the night 0-for-12.

BEWARE OF THE BITE! Action You Can Sink Your Teeth Into! 2008-09 Florida Everblades full and half season tickets are available for as little as $252 per/seat! Be sure to reserve your piece of the action for next season! The Everblades open the 2008-09 season on Friday, October 17 when they host the Charlotte Checkers from Germain Arena at 7:30 p.m.! Visit www.floridaeverblades.com and www.germainarena.com or call 239-948-PUCK for more information on ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.

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ECHL Stories from October 11, 2008


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