Blades give up lead, fall 4-3 to Stingrays in Game 5
Published on May 3, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
N. CHARLESTON, SC - The Florida Everblades dropped a tough 4-3 decision to the South Carolina Stingrays in Game 5 of the South Division Finals on Sunday night at the North Charleston Coliseum. South Carolina put themselves in position to win the series by scoring four unanswered goals to erase a three-goal deficit, including the game-winner with just 35 seconds left in regulation.
In the opening 20 minutes, the Everblades carried their play over from the double overtime victory a night before into the first period of Game 5 en-route to opening a 2-0 lead entering the first intermission.
The scoring started in the sixth minute when Ernie Hartlieb threw a shot from the right corner boards that banked off Stingrays goalie Jonathan Boutin and across the goal line. Hartlieb's second goal of the playoffs came on hard work in the corner by himself and Brad Herauf to work the puck free for the shot and goal at 5:37.
The Everblades kept apply strong pressure and struck for their second goal at 9:38 when defenseman Peter Metcalf was allowed to walk free to the net from the right circle before lifting a shot over the left shoulder of Boutin and under the cross bar for his second goal of the post-season. The play began with Milan Gajic bringing the puck into the zone on the right side before dropping it back for Metcalf who found open space to the net.
Although the shots were even at seven after the first period, the Everblades controlled the tempo of play and also picked up a huge save by David Leggio who midway through the frame stopped South Carolina's Mikita Kashirsky on a breakaway to keep the Stingrays off the board.
The roles reversed in the second period as the Stingrays dominated the play out-shooting Florida 10-6 and eventually cutting the Everblades lead to one goal. However before South Carolina could cut the Everblades lead down to a goal, Kevin Baker extended Florida's lead to three with his third playoff goal at 10:11.
The play developed with a shot from the left point by Metcalf that Lang deflected wide of the net. Baker then raced onto the loose puck behind the cage and swung out at the right post where he was able to force the puck past Boutin inside the right post.
The three-goal advantage however only lasted for two minutes as South Carolina cashed in their first goal off a right circle face-off win. Johann Kroll threw a shot from the top of the right circle on net that deflected off Matt Scherer before also deflecting off Leggio and into the net at 12:12.
South Carlina then carried the momentum from the first goal into their second goal just over two minutes later. This time Michael Dubuc took a pass at the bottom of the right circle from Sasha Pokoluk before lifting a shot over Leggio's left shoulder and into the net at 14:23.
Much like Leggio had some big saves in the first period, the Stingrays got big saves from Boutin in the second period stopping Baker on a short-handed breakaway and Roy and a strong move to the front of the net.
In the third period the play teetered back and forth with the goalies begin the story by keeping the team's off the scoreboard. Boutin once again came up big stopping two or three quality chances by the Everblades.
Heading into the final four minutes the Everblades still held a one-goal lead and after killing off a South Carolina power play, but the Stingrays managed to tie the game with 3:14 remaining when Keith Johnson made a strong cut to the net from the bottom of the left circle. Leggio made save, but Maxime Lacroix poked the puck across the goal line.
With the momentum on their side, the Stingrays then found themselves on a power play with 43 seconds left regulation when the Everblades were whistled for having too many on the ice. Just eight seconds into the power play Kashirsky tallied the game winner with a wrist shot from the left circle that beat Leggio low on the blocker side with 35 seconds remaining.
In goal Leggio fell to 6-4 after allowing the four goals on 24 shots, while Boutin improved to 6-2 after stopping 21 of 24 shots.
On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 0-of-3, while the Stingrays closed out the game 1-of-5.
BEWARE OF THE BITE! Action You Can Sink Your Teeth Into! Tickets for Game 6 of the South Division Finals are on sale now! Fans can purchase tickets for Game "E" at the Germain Arena Box Office from 10-6, Monday - Friday or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Visit www.floridaeverblades.com and www.germainarena.com or call 239-948-PUCK for more information on group ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.
The Everblades return to action on Tuesday, May 5 when they host the South Carolina Stingrays in Game 6 of the South Division Finals at Germain Arena at 7:30 p.m.
3 Stars:
1 - Nikita Kashirsky - SC
2 - Jonathan Boutin - SC
3 - Michael Dubuc - SC
ECHL Stories from May 3, 2009
- Stingrays Fall Hard in Double Overtime, 3-2 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Wranglers Stun Thunder 3-2 In OT, Take Game 4 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Blades give up lead, fall 4-3 to Stingrays in Game 5 - Florida Everblades
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Aces Heading Back to Conference Finals - Alaska Aces
- Lawrence's OT goal ties the series at 2-2 - Stockton Thunder
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
