Blades Rally Late to Defeat Royals 5-3, Lead Series 2-0
Published on April 30, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades (8-1) defeated the Reading Royals (7-5) 5-3 before a TECO Arena record crowd of 7,738 on Friday night. Florida leads the best of five Eastern Conference series two games to none. Game #3 is slated for Sunday at 1:00 PM in Reading, PA.
Trailing 3-2 in the third period the Everblades mounted a rally starting at the 8:58 mark when Matt Pagnutti's shot off an odd man rush was stopped initially by Reading netminder Cody Rudkowsky but the puck struck a Royal defenseman and slid in the net tying the score at three. With under three minutes remaining in the game, the Everblades were swarming in front when Ryan Brindley sent a shot through a group of players and past Rudkowsky for a 4-3 Florida lead. Chad Larose preserved the victory with an empty net goal that would be his second goal of the game. The victory moves Florida within one win from advancing to the Kelly Cup Finals.
Early in the third Reading looked as if it might escape with the split when Kent Davyduke took a pass in the slot and wristed over Zepp's glove to give the Royals a 3-2 lead.
In the second period, Reading tied the score at two when Lars Petersen found Church down low and he flipped a backhander past Zepp for his second goal of the game.
Florida's offense got things started in the first period when Mike Torney's shot from the point hit a player and slid between Rudkowsky's legs at the 5:20 mark. Florida went up 2-0 when John McNabb's hard work in front produced a loose puck that Chad Larose wristed up and under the crossbar. Reading pulled to within 2-1 when Brad Church slid a backhander passed Zepp on the powerplay.
Blades netminder Rob Zepp stopped 22 of 25 shots while Reading goaltender Cody Rudkowsky stopped 46 of 51 shots. Florida finished 0 for 6 on the power play while Reading went 1 for 5.
Florida and Reading will face-off in Game 3 on Sunday in Reading, Pennsylvania. Game time is 1:05 p.m. The game will be televised locally on UPN-8 and simulcast on Sportsradio 770 AM.
3 Stars:
1 - Brindley - FLA
2 - Berg - FLA
3 - Pagnutti - FLA
ECHL Stories from April 30, 2004
- Blades Rally Late to Defeat Royals 5-3, Lead Series 2-0 - Florida Everblades
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- IceGators Announce Jersey and Glove Auction - Louisiana IceGators
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