Blades season comes to an end after 3-2 loss to Columbia
April 12, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
COLUMBIA, SC - The Florida Everblades saw their season come to a close after suffering a 3-2 loss to the Columbia Inferno in game 3 of the South Division Quarterfinals on Saturday night from the Carolina Coliseum. The Inferno pulled off the sweep of the first round playoff series behind the goaltending of Todd Ford who stopped 35 shots in the game three win.
The Inferno came out strong in front of the home fans and it paid off as they scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the game to help them carry a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. The first of the two goals came off the stick of Reid Cashman who's shot from the right boards snuck through traffic and past Everblades goaltender David Shantz at 5:55. Joel Hanson and Tyler Doig assisted on Cashman's first goal of the playoffs.
The Inferno extended their lead to 2-0 shortly after by converting on their second power play of the game. Daniel Sparre notched his second goal of the post season after one-timing a pass from Steve McJannet from the right post and into the net.
As the second period progressed, the Everblades, who out-shot Columbia 12-8 in the period, created chances to the net, and even hit the post once, but couldn't find a way to get a shot past Ford.
The Everblades kept the pressure on entering the third period and finally found some life just 2:22 into the frame when the Everblades converted on a power play to trim the Inferno lead in half. The play, a broken one, saw the Everblades get a shot from Derek Damon from the right circle that clanged off the left post. The rebound however went to the slot where Brandon Roach let a shot go that deflected straight up in the air and bounced down behind Ford. The Everblades continued to pressure, but unfortunately fell behind by two once again when Brad Ralph notched his first of playoffs at 11:05 with a wrist shot from the high slot. The two-goal deficit however only lasted for 13 seconds as the Everblades countered with a goal by Damon on a nice deflection of a David Cornacchia pass from the right corner.
Despite their best efforts, the Everblades couldn't find a way to equalize the score as Ford closed the door down the stretch to give Columbia the game and the series.
Shantz (0-1) played well, but took the loss after allowing the three goals on 22 shots.
On the power play, the Everblades closed out night 1-for-4 while Columbia went 1-for-6.
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