'Blades stumble against Checkers, 3-2; win streak ends
February 20, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC - The Florida Everblades (29-20-4) saw their season-high five-game winning streak come to an end after falling 3-2 to the Charlotte Checkers (24-22-5) on Wednesday night at Charlotte Bobcats Arena in front of a crowd of 4,161. The win was Charlotte's first against the Everblades this season and snapped their three-game losing skid.
After a scoreless first period that saw Charlotte out-shoot the Everblades 9-7, the Checkers jumped out quickly at the start of the second period en-route to a 3-1 lead after two periods. Charlotte wasted little time getting on the board scoring the game's first goal just 34 seconds into the second period. Kenny Smith notched his third goal of the season after one-timing a pass from Mike Bayrack by Everblades goaltender Kevin Nastiuk.
The Checkers then went to work on the power play to score their next two goals. Jeff Kyrakos registered his 16th goal of the year at 6:03 when he deflected home a shot from Michael Busto at the top of the crease to open a 2-0 lead. The Checkers then extended their lead to 3-0 at 14:59 when Mike Bayrack let a shot from the right boards fly that sailed through traffic and by Nastiuk. The goal was Bayrack's 15th of the season.
The Everblades finally found the back of the net late in the second period on Brad Herauf's 11th goal of the year. After David Cornacchia chipped the puck up the right boards, Herauf skated into the offensive zone and wandered into the right circle. With two players going to the front of the net, Herauf paused, then let a wrist shot fly from the inside part of the right circle that sailed past Charlotte net-minder Chris Holt with just 1:15 remaining in the period.
The Everblades battled their way back to within a goal early in the third period when Mike McLean notched his seventh goal of the season just 4:24 into the final frame. The play began with the Everblades keeping strong pressure on in the offensive zone. The puck was worked to the blue line where Ryan Van Buskirk let a hard shot fly to the net. The puck ricocheted wide and was collected by J.B. Bittner behind the net. Bittner then slid a pass to McLean between the circles where he let a quick one-timer go that snuck by Holt to cut the lead to one.
The Everblades continued the pressure in the third period, but Holt came up big for Charlotte making several big saves down the stretch the keep Florida from tying the game.
In the end Holt earned the win by stopping 25 of 27 shots, while Nastiuk suffered the loss allowing the three goals on 27 shots.
On the power play, the Everblades closed out night 0-for-5, while the Checkers finished 2-for-6.
Experience the excitement of the Everblades 10th Anniversary season! The Everblades return to action on Friday, February 22 when they host travel to Augusta to take on the Lynx at 7:35 p.m. from James Brown Arena. The Everblades next home game is on Friday, March 7 when they host the Mississippi Sea Wolves at 7:30 p.m. from Germain Arena. 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.
Three Stars:
1) Mike Bayrack - CHR
2) Jeff Kyrzakos - CHR
3) Michael Busto - CHR
ECHL Stories from February 20, 2008
- Balanced Road Effort Helps Steelheads To 3-2 Win Over Salmon Kings - Idaho Steelheads
- Royals Pull Out OT Win Over Elmira, 3-2 - Reading Royals
- Stingrays Score Five Times, Take Out Inferno 5-1 - South Carolina Stingrays
- On The Road Again - Stockton Thunder
- Inferno lose to Stingrays 5-1 - Columbia Inferno
- Checkers Edge Everblades, 3-2 - Charlotte Checkers
- Shorthanded Jackals burned in OT, 3-2 - Elmira Jackals
- 'Blades stumble against Checkers, 3-2; win streak ends - Florida Everblades
- Wranglers To Shave Heads For Charity On March 8th - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Johnstown Chiefs Welcome Four-Legged Friends - Johnstown Chiefs
- Rudkowsky Returns From Grand Rapids - Phoenix RoadRunners
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Rosters Announced For Mississippi Coast Challenge Exhibition - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- "Puttin' Pucks Hockey Night" This Saturday - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Shawn Collymore Returns To Reading - Reading Royals
- Former ECHL Goaltender Legace, Left Wing Fedotenko Named NHL's Three Stars - ECHL
- Monych Returns To Thunder In Trade With Mississippi - Stockton Thunder
- Sea Wolves Acquire Forward Contois From Stockton - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Falcons to Shave Heads for St. Baldrick's on March 21 - Fresno Falcons
- Cincinnat's Desharnais Has 15-Game Assist Streak - ECHL
- Pemberton Begins First Tour of the "A" - Trenton Devils
- May And Donati Back To Binghamton - Elmira Jackals
- Melanson named ECHL Player of the Week - Florida Everblades
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Florida's Rookie Melanson Named In Glas Co Player Of The Week - ECHL
- Ice Pilots Become Waiters at Tip-A-Pilot Tomorrow - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Toledo Walleye unveiled - Toledo Walleye
- Aces hold off Falcons, 4-3 - Alaska Aces
- Falcons Fall to Aces 4-3 - Fresno Falcons
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
