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ECHL Florida Everblades

Blades run streak to four at 5-2 win over Mississippi

December 20, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades (19-5-2) kept up their winning ways on Saturday night handing the Mississippi Sea Wolves (13-13-3) a 5-2 loss in front of a crowd of 6,503 at Germain Arena. The win was Florida's fourth straight over their South Division rival and their fourth straight overall.

The Everblades picked up where they left off last night, coming out flying in the first period and scoring three times. Peter Metcalf opened the scoring with a power play goal just 3:52 into the contest. Metcalf's third goal of the season came from the just below the top of the right circle when his shot deflected off the arm of a Mississippi defender and past Sea Wolves net-minder Ryan Munce. Ernie Hartlieb and Aaron Brocklehurst picked up the assists.

Still leading 1-0 late into the first period, the Everblades struck for two quick goals. Colin Nicholson tabbed the first of the two at 15:28 taking a pass at the top of the crease from Ryan Lang before tapping the puck into the open net. Along with Lang, Yannick Tifu collected an assist on Nicholson's fifth goal of the season.

A mere 39 seconds later Andrew Sweetland notched his first professional with the eventual game-winning goal. After carrying the puck into the zone, Sweetland had a first chance at the right post, but the puck kicked off the side of the net. The rookie chased the rebound behind the net before stepping out at the left side of the cage and tucking the puck across the line at 16:07.

Just like a night before however, the Sea Wolves chipped away and cut the Florida lead to one after a pair of second period goals. The first goal came off the stick of Ryan Cruthers at 6:52. The Mississippi rookie let fly a quick wrist shot from the left circle that sailed over the glove of Everblades goalie David Leggio.

The Sea Wolves then cashed in on a 5-on-3 power play goal when Kyle Peto's slap shot from the top of the right circle sizzled into the upper left corner of the net at 18:39. The Everblades however stole the momentum back scoring with just 13 seconds left in the third period to regain the two-goal lead.

After the Sea Wolves failed to clear the zone Matt Auffrey intercepted the puck and fed a pass to Kevin Baker at the bottom of the left circle where he walked to the side of the net before ripping a short-side shot past Munce. The goal was Baker's 22nd of the season and along with Auffrey, Lang tallied an assist.

Lang later got in on the scoring putting the finishing touches on the goal-scoring 1:09 into the third period. Doug O'Brien's shot from the left point was tipped in by Lang who was camped out at the top of the crease. Tifu picked up his second assist of the night on Lang's eighth goal of the year.

The Everblades sealed off the Sea Wolves the rest of the way, holding Mississippi to just one shot in the final 20 minutes.

Leggio notched his second straight win by stopping 16 of 18 shots, improving to 8-2-1. Munce suffered his second straight loss allowing the five goals on 40 shots to see his record fall to 9-8-0.

On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 1-of-4, while Mississippi closed out the game 1-of-6.

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ECHL Stories from December 20, 2008


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