ECHL Florida Everblades

'Blades run win streak to four, blast Checkers 6-3

Published on February 16, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades (28-19-4) exploded for a season-high five second period goals en-route to a come-from-behind 6-3 victory over the Charlotte Checkers (23-21-5) in front of a crowd of 5,625 at Germain Arena. The four-game win streak matches a season high for the Everblades having also accomplished the feat November 16-23.

Although the Everblades out-shot the Checkers 13-3 in the first period, Charlotte opened the scoring with the lone first period goal. With a delayed penalty coming against Florida the Checkers rushed the puck into the offensive zone and Mark Lee let a shot go from the high slot. The puck was knocked down in front and Lee Falardeau chopped the bouncing disc up over the right should of Everblades goaltender Kevin Nastiuk for the 1-0 lead at 7:02.

The Charlotte lead held until just past the five minute mark of the second period, which is when the Everblades barrage of goals began. J.B. Bitter scored the first of the five tallies at 5:42 of the period after taking a nice lead pass from Preston Callander and racing in down the left boards. Bittner then first a quick wrist shot from the left circle that sailed past Charlotte goaltender Mike Ayers for his fifth goal of the season.

The pressure continued from the Everblades and less than two minutes later Ernie Hartlieb scored his 17th goal of the season on a 2-on-1 rush. After two Charlotte players collided in the offensive zone, Mathieu Melanson skated the puck to center before feeding a pass to Hartlieb on the right side. The Everblade captain then sailed into the right circle and fired a shot that snuck between Ayers' arm and body and across the line at 7:08.

Florida increased the lead to 3-1 at 8:23 with their lone power play goal of the night when Brad Zancanaro from the right corner, fired the puck on net and banked it off Ayers' left leg and into the net. Zancanaro's eighth goal of the season came after Ayers stopped Melanson's shot from the right circle. Mike McLean added an assist on the goal as well.

With a two goal lead the scoring settled down, but late in the middle frame, the Everblades delivered two more body blows to Charlotte, scoring twice in the final four minutes. Brad Herauf tallied the eventual game-winning goal after jabbing home a loose puck in the crease at 16:18. Hartlieb assisted on Herauf's 10th goal of the year by starting the play into the zone on the right side where he drew Ayers out of the net and forced the net-minder to commit, then slid a pass across to Herauf. Zancanaro also assisted on the tally.

The scoring frenzy came to a close at 17:51 on Callander's 11th goal of the season. Callander took the puck from the right corner and walked to the front of the net where he jammed the puck past Ayers on an assist from Jarret Lukin.

In the third period the Checkers replaced Ayers with Chris Holt, who made some big stops early in the period to help allow Charlotte to get back in the game. Charlotte closed the gap to three goals just 1:46 into the third period when Kaleb Betts deflected a shot from the left point past Nastiuk. The Checkers then cut the lead to 5-3 at 7:33 of the period when Dusty Jamieson got a piece of a shot that bounced past Nastiuk and inside the right post, but that was as close as the Checkers would get as Nastiuk closed the door and Lukin sealed the game with Florida's sixth goal.

Lukin's sixth goal of the season came with 2:35 remaining in regulation and came off a nice pass by Callander from the left corner. Lukin was left alone between the circles and chipped a shot over the blocker of Holt to open a 6-3 Everblades lead. Kirk MacDonald also assisted on the tally.

Nastiuk played strong in net and improved to 2-1-0 after stopping 24 of 27 shots. Ayers suffered the loss for Charlotte allowing five goals on 26 shots through two period, dropping his record to 7-5-0. Holt finished off the night stopping six of seven shots in the third period.

On the power play, the Everblades closed out night 1-for-5, while the Checkers finished 0-for-5.

Experience the excitement of the Everblades 10th Anniversary season! The Everblades return to action on Sunday, February 17 when they host the Charlotte Checkers at 6:00 p.m. All kids in attendance will receive a draw-string back pack!! 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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ECHL Stories from February 16, 2008


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