Blades Stretch Division Lead With 2-1 OT Win
Published on December 17, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
BILOXI, MS - The Florida Everblades (17-5-2) picked up a big two points in the standings after manufacturing their second consecutive come-from-behind win thanks to Kevin Baker's overtime game winner over the Mississippi Sea Wolves (13-11-3) on Wednesday night at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum.
Baker's one-time shot from the left circle with 28.9 seconds remaining in the overtime period capped off a wild ending to this South Division match-up. Baker's 19th goal of the season pushed him into a tie for the overall league lead with 35 points.
Tonight's game carried a much different look than yesterday's goal fest. Although the Everblades carried the majority of the play and pressure in the first period, the Sea Wolves were the only ones to find the back of the net. While enjoying a full two-minute 5-on-3 power play Mississippi finally broke through late in the two-man advantage when Alexandre Parent's shot from the right circle found its way through three sets of legs and into the net with a minute and a half remaining in the period.
The game remained a 1-0 Mississippi lead through the second period as the teams traded chances with the Everblades out-shooting the Sea Wolves by the slim margin of one 11-10. A game-changing moment however presented itself late in the second period when, for the second time in the game, the Sea Wolves were awarded an extended 5-on-3 power play. The Everblades penalty killers once again came up big to keep Mississippi off the board.
The Everblades charged hard at the Sea Wolves net out-shooting Mississippi 16-8 in the final 20 minutes and finally the Everblades found a way to get the puck past Sea Wolves net-minder Riku Helenius with less than four minutes to go in regulation.
The game-tying goal came off the stick of rookie Andrew Sweetland who was able to poke a loose puck at the top of the crease between the pads of Helenius at 16:14 after Ryan McGinnis' shot from the left point ricocheted off traffic in front of the net. The goal was the first of Sweetland's career and was also assisted on by Ernie Hartlieb.
In overtime, the winning goal was set up by a rush into the zone by Yannick Tifu on the left side. After swinging behind the Mississippi net, Tifu fed Peter Metcalf at the top of the right circle, who then slid a perfect pass onto the tape of Baker in the left circle.
In goal, David Leggio picked up the win for the Everblades making 29 saves, several of which came on the penalty kill, to improve to 7-2-1. Helenius (4-5-2) picked up credit for a tie after stopping a total of 39 shots.
On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 0-of-5, while Mississippi closed out the game 1-of-11.
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