ECHL Florida Everblades

'Blades remain perfect at home with 7-2 win over Columbia

Published on November 10, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades (6-3-0) moved to a perfect 4-0-0 on home ice this season after a 7-2 thumping of the Columbia Inferno (4-5-1) on Saturday night at Germain Arena in front of a crowd of 6,134. Forwards Derek Damon and Ernie Hartlieb led the way offensively with two goals each, while goaltender Tyler Plante turned away 31 shots to win his second straight.

The game started off quick for the Everblades who tallied four first period goals to set the tone. Rookie Adam Bartholomay, playing in only his second professional game opened the scoring at 2:38 when his slapshot from the right circle snuck between the pads of Inferno net-minder Todd Ford. Hartlieb and J.D. Forrest collected the assist on Bartholomay's first professional goal.

Damon then took over, scoring the next two goals for the Everblades. The first came short-handed at 7:40 after a nice play by Brad Zancanaro to strip the puck loose behind the Inferno goal and feed Damon in front for his second goal of the season. Damon next notched an even strength goal at 12:07 after chasing down a rebound off Ford's pad and lifting his shot into the net from the right circle. Mathieu Melanson and David Cornacchia assisted on the tally, which chased Ford from the game in favor of back-up goaltender Jeff Jakaitis.

Before the first period ended, the Everblades added another goal off the stick of Jon Lehun who was playing in his 100th career game. Lehun's shot from the top of the right circle beat Jakaitis on the stick side with 2:59 remaining in the frame. Forrest and Kyle McAllister notched the assists on Lehun's fourth goal of the season.

The Inferno responded in the second period by notching the game's next two goals. Jeff Miles tallied his eighth goal of the year 5:36 into the period to get Columbia on the board. Less than three minutes later Owen Fussey collected his third goal of the season when his shot from the bottom of the right circle found its way under the crossbar at 8:09 to trim the Everblades lead in half.

The turning point of the game however came at 12:33 of the second period when the Everblades regained their three-goal lead on Forrest's first goal of the season. The play began with Melanson getting sandwiched between two Columbia players leading to an injury to Inferno forward Jeremy Hall. As the play continued, Zancanaro fed Damon, who was stopped by Jakaitis, but the puck rolled loose and Forrest swept it into the net. Play was halted for close to 10 minutes as Hall was attended to and eventually wheeled off the ice on a stretcher.

As the game resumed, both teams looked sluggish and eventually the Everblades carried a 5-2 lead into the locker room. Florida tacked on a pair of power play goals in the third period, both off the stick of Hartlieb. The first came at 5:27 with assists going to Damon and McAllister and the second came minutes later at 7:55 giving the team captain his fourth goal of the year. Lehun and Jarret Lukin assisted on the final goal of the contest, giving the Everblades a 7-2 lead.

With the win in net, Plante improved to 2-1-0 and notched his first home win of the season. Ford suffered the loss for the Inferno allowing the three goals on five shots, dropping his record to 3-2-1. Jakaitis played the final 47:53 of the game, and allowed four goals on 26 shots faced.

On the power play, the Everblades converted on two of their three chances, while the Inferno finished 0-for-5.

Experience the excitement of the Everblades 10th Anniversary season! The Everblades return to action on Tuesday, November 13 when they travel to Columbia to take on the Inferno at 7:05 p.m. from the Carolina Coliseum. Individual tickets to all Everblades home games are on sale now! Stop by the Germain Arena box office to reserve your seat for all the exciting action! Visit www.floridaeverblades.com and www.germainarena.com for more information on ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.

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