ECHL Florida Everblades

'Blades run winning streak to six with 5-2 win over Columbia

Published on December 17, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


COLUMBIA, SC - The Florida Everblades (18-7-0) extended their season-high winning streak to six games thanks to the two-goal performances of Vince Bellissimo and Mike Angelidis and the 23 saves by goaltender Craig Kowalski as the Everblades upended the Columbia Inferno (7-14-4) by a final score of 5-2 on Sunday night at the Carolina Coliseum in front of a crowd of 2,746.

For the second straight night, the Everblades tallied the lone first period goal to grab the early lead after the first 20 minutes. Angelidis notched his second goal in as many nights by collecting a rebound on the doorstep and slipping it past Inferno net-minder Robert Gherson at 5:15 of the frame. Brent McDonald and Frank MacDonald picked up the assists on Angelidis' ninth goal of the season.

The Everblades began the second period with power play time and took advantage 15 seconds into the frame when Bellissimo extended his point scoring streak to five games with his ninth goal of the season by lifting the puck from the right post under the cross bar to give open a 2-0 lead. Reggie Berg extended his point scoring streak to six games with one assist and Chris Dyment collected the second assist.

The Inferno however responded with a power play goal at 3:34 on Jeff Miles' ninth goal of the year to trim the lead to 2-1. The game changed however late in the second period when Justin Sawyer of Columbia was given six total penalty minutes, four for high sticking and two for unsportsmanlike conduct. During the ensuing power play another penalty was whistled against the Inferno giving the Everblades a 5-on-3 power play that they would cash in on. Angelidis tallied his second goal of the night with 1:12 remaining in the second period to open a 3-1 Everblades lead on assists by Berg and Ryan Van Buskirk.

As the third period commenced the Everblades still held 2:38 of power play time, but could not convert, however at 11:55 with a delayed penaly coming against Columbia, Frank MacDonald blasted a shot from the top of the left circle past Gherson for the three goal lead. Brad Zancanro and Brent McDonald collected the assists on MacDonald's third goal of the season. The Inferno responded quickly though, scoring just 23 seconds later when Brad Ralph snuck a shot between the pads of Kowalski from the bottom of the right circle for his eighth goal of the year.

The Everblades withstood the pressure of the Inferno over the final minutes and then salted the game away when Bellissimo tucked the puck into the empty Columbia net with eighth seconds remaining in the game. Berg and Dyment each assisted on Bellissimo's second goal of the night.

Kowalski earned his the win in net for the Everblades by stopping 23 Columbia shots to raise his record to 9-5-0, and Gherson saw his record fall to 1-9-1 after allowing four goals on 40 shots.

On the power play, the Everblades closed out night 2-for-10, while the Inferno finished the night 1-for-3.

The Florida Everblades, proud affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers, return to action on Friday, December 22 when they host the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:30 p.m. at Germain Arena. Florida Everblades group and individual game tickets & mini-plans are now available! Reserve your seat for all the exciting action today by calling (239) 948-7825. Visit www.floridaeverblades.com and www.germainarena.com for more information on group ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.

Three Stars:

1) Mike Angelidis - FLA

2) Vince Bellissimo - FLA

3) Reggie Berg - FLA

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ECHL Stories from December 17, 2006


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