'Blades open season with 6-3 win over Checkers
October 17, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades (1-0-0) opened the 2008-09 season with a strong effort that led to a 6-3 victory over the Charlotte Checkers (0-1-0) on Friday night at Germain Arena in front of a crowd of 6,934.
The Everblades improved to 7-3-1 in season opening games by applying good pressure throughout the contest and playing solid in their own zone as well. Goaltender David Leggio earned his first professional win by settling down after a shaky start to stop 26 of 29 shots.
The Checkers jumped out to a quick lead, scoring just 1:20 into the game on the first of Peter Tsimikalis' two goals when he jammed a shot past Leggio from the top of the crease. The Everblades however responded with the game's next two goals.
Ernie Hartlieb delighted the home fans at 3:01 of the first after taking a nice pass from Colin Nicholson just on the inside of the right circle and fired a wrist shot past Checkers net-minder Max Daigneault. Jonathan Paiement also added an assist. The Everblades grabbed their first lead at 7:14 of the opening period when rookie defenseman Aaron Brocklehurst crept in from the right point and threw a shot on net from the bottom of the left circle. The puck found its way past Daigneault and off the inside of the right post for a power play goal and a 2-1 lead. Paiement notched his second assist of the game and Jacob Micflikier picked up a helper as well.
The scored remained 2-1 for the Everblades until the later stages of the first period when Charlotte registered a power play goal at 13:55 when Tomas Zaborksy poked a loose puck from behind Leggio across the goal line.
Florida again answered and took the lead for good at 15:20 of the first period on Kevin Baker's laser of a wrist shot into the upper right corner of the net from the left circle. Mark Lee and Brad Zanon tallied the assists.
Carrying a 3-2 lead into the second period the Everblades extended their advantage midway through the frame on a power play goal by Danick Bouchard at 9:35. The play was made possible after Micflikier kept the puck in the offensive zone before feeding Bouchard at the left post where he jammed it past Daigneault. Lee also collected an assist.
The Everblades sealed the win with a pair of quick goals in the first four minutes of the third period. Bouchard notched his second of the night just 1:34 into the period completing a breakaway from the blue line in. Ryan Lang and Ross Carlson assisted on the tally.
Less than two minutes later Paiement notched his first goal of the season with a short-handed penalty shot goal. Paiement was tripped from behind while rushing the Charlotte net resulting in referee David Jones awarding a penalty shot. Paiement converted by just barely sneaking the puck under the pad of Daigneault and across the goal line inside the right post at 3:21.
The Checkers closed out the game's scoring with their second power play goal and Tsimikalis' second maker of the evening at 15:29.
In net, Leggio improved to 1-0-0 and Schurch suffered the loss allowing the six goals on 29 shots.
On the power play, the Everblades were 2-for-12, while the Checkers finished the night 2-for-13.
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