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Florida Everblades

'Blades lose in barn-burner, 6-5

November 28, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades (11-6-0) valiant third period comeback was spoiled by a hat trick from Kevin Baker as the Texas Wildcatters (12-2-2) won their sixth straight game with a 6-5 victory on Tuesday night at Germain Arena in front of a crowd of 4,732.

The Wildcatters came out blazing in the first period scoring three times in the first 15 minutes to set the early tone. Mike Bayrack opened the scoring with his first short-handed goal of the season just 1:44 into the game. The short-handed tally was the third by Texas this season and the first allowed by the Everblades. Baker tallied the first of his three goals at 6:17 of the frame with the Wildcatters enjoying a power play, and Daniel Sparre opened the 3-0 Texas lead with an even strength goal at 14:32.

The Everblades finally found the back of the net late in the first period when Dustin Johner tallied his second short-handed goal of the year with 2:15 remaining in the frame, wristing a shot past Wildcatter goaltender Matt Yeats. The unassisted goal was Florida's sixth short-handed goal of the season and the third allowed by Texas.

Leading by two heading into the second period Texas regained their three-goal lead when Brandin Cote slipped a power play goal past Everblades goaltender David Shantz at 4:51. At that point the Everblades pulled Shantz and replaced the rookie net minder with Craig Kowalski. Following the switch, the Everblades once again trimmed Texas' lead to two when Brent McDonald fired a wrist shot from the top of the left circle past Yeats at 9:39. Vince Bellissimo and Ernie Hartlieb assisted on McDonald's fifth goal of the year.

Following the same script, the Wildcatters once again increased their lead to three, this time early in the third period when Baker notched his second of the night with a power play goal from the left circle for the 5-2 Texas advantage.

The Everblades began their big comeback shortly after, scoring a trio of goals in a span of 2:26 midway through the period to tie the contest at five. Brett Peterson started the fireworks off by blasting a power play goal from the point into the back of the net at 9:35. Chris Lee and David Brine chipped in the helpers. Bellissimo then got in on the act with his sixth goal of the season, slipping a shot past Yeats inside the right post at 10:55, with assists going to Johner and Mike Angelidis. Just one minute and one second later, Reggie Berg, who was skating in his 300th career game, threw a shot from the left boards that snuck past Yeats to tie the game 5-5. Hartlieb and McDonald added the assists on Berg's sixth of the year.

The jubilation however was short lived as Texas, following a time-out, regained the lead just 38 seconds after Berg's goal when Baker competed the hat trick by firing a shot from the slot past Kowalski inside the left post.

Despite a furious effort in the final two minutes, the Everblades couldn't find the equalizer as the Wildcatters held on for the win.

Kowalski suffered the loss in relief for the Everblades allowing two goals on nine shots faced in the 34:21 he played, which dropped his record to 5-4-0. Shantz left after playing the first 24:51 and allowing four goals on 11 shots. Yeats picked up the for Texas despite allowing five goals on 29 Florida shots, to raise his record to 10-2-2.

On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 2-for-9, while the Wildcatters finished off the game 3-for-7.

The Florida Everblades, proud affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers, return to the ice on Friday, December 1 when they host the Texas Wildcatters at 7:30 p.m. from 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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