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ECHL Florida Everblades

'Blades make it four straight! Blank Gwinnett 4-0

November 8, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades (6-2-1) ran their winning streak to four thanks to a 38 save shutout by goaltender Anton Khudobin and strong penalty killing in a 4-0 win over the Gwinnett Gladiators (2-4-2) at Germain Arena on Saturday night. The win was Florida's third over the Gladiators this season.

For the second straight night the teams played to a scoreless first period, but the Everblades struck quickly in the second period. The second period, which has been Florida's best this season, opened with the Everblades on the power play for the first 1:16. Two seconds after the penalty expired Jonathan Paiement's slap shot from the high slot found its way through traffic and into the net. Yannick Tifu and Kevin Baker recorded assists on Paiement's third goal of the year.

The Everblades extended their lead to 2-0 midway through the second period with the team's fourth short-handed goal of the season. Colin Nicholson cashed in his first goal of the season by rushing into the zone on the right side before firing a shot from the circle. Gwinnett goaltender Charlie Effinger made the initial save, but the puck dropped behind him where Nicholson poked it across the line at 12:32. Mathieu Roy collected the helper on the tally.

Entering the third period, the Everblades continued to pressure, firing 13 shots in the first five minutes of the frame. The hard work eventually paid off when Michael Grenzy connected on a good one-time shot from the right circle after taking a beautiful pass from Baker at 7:38 to open a three-goal lead. Along with Baker, Ernie Hartlieb added an assist on Grenzy's second goal of the year.

The Everblades added the final nail at 10:22 of the third period when Baker tallied his sixth goal of the season with a quick shot from the slot after taking a nice pass from Ross Carlson from the right corner. The assist for Carlson extended his point-scoring streak to seven, which is a career-high.

Florida wasn't out of the woods yet as Gwinnett pressured the Everblades over the final few minutes with two power play opportunities, but as they have all season the penalty killing unit came up strong holding Gwinnett off the board.

Khudobin recorded his fifth career shutout by stopping 11 shots in the first period, 16 shots in the second and 11 shots in the third. The win was the Kazakhstan native's fourth straight after taking the loss in his first start of the year.

Effinger took the loss for Gwinnett, dropping his record to 0-2-0 after allowing the four goals on 40 shots.

On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 0-of-5, while the Gladiators finished the night 0-of-6.

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