Blades stymied by Jakaitis' 50 saves, fall 4-0 to Checkers
Published on February 17, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
CHARLOTTE, NC - If a hockey game was based on offensive possession and shot differential, then the Florida Everblades (35-14-2) would have won going away on Tuesday night at Time Warner Cable Arena. Instead the Charlotte Checkers (26-20-4) rode goaltender Jeff Jakaitis' 50 saves to a 4-0 victory over the Everblades for their second straight win over the Everblades.
A fast-paced action filled first period that saw the goaltenders be the story as both David Leggio for the Everblades and Jakaitis made big saves to keep the game scoreless after the first 20 minutes. Early in the first period Jakaitis was the one who flexed his muscles, and late in the period it was Leggio that stopped Charlotte cold as the Everblades carried a 15-8 shots advantage to the locker room.
Despite dominating the puck possession and offensive chances, the Everblades found themselves down 2-0 after the second period of play. The Everblades, who outshot Charlotte 20-8 in the period, saw the Checkers get on the board early in the frame when Mike Bayrack tallied his 16th goal of the season just 1:16 into the period after racing though the right circle and cutting to the front of the net where his shot slipped between the pads of Leggio.
As the period progressed the Everblades kept getting chances, but Jakaitis kept turning them away. Meanwhile at 14:40 the Checkers increased their lead to 2-0 after David Rutherford completed a 2-on-1 rush by cutting from the right boards across to the slot where he lifted a back-hand shot over the blocker of Leggio.
The Checkers sealed the win after scoring a pair of goals midway through the third period. Chris Capraro notched his sixth goal of the season at 9:58 after taking a pass from Ryan Murphy on the tape in the slot before wristing a shot past Leggio to open a 3-0 lead.
Less than two minutes later the Checkers pushed their lead to four when Jeff Miles, from the bottom of the left circle, squeezed a shot between Leggio's pads and into the net at 11:17.
Despite their best efforts, including holding a four-minute power play late in the third period, the Everblades couldn't find a way to get the puck past Jakaitis, who has now stopped 104 of the last 106 shots over his last two starts.
Jakaitis improved his record to 17-12-3 in recording his fourth shutout overall and his second against the Everblades this season. Leggio meanwhile fell to 17-6-1 after allowing four goals on 22 shots.
On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 0-of-5, while Checkers closed out the game 0-of-4.
BEWARE OF THE BITE! Action You Can Sink Your Teeth Into! Individual tickets to all Everblades home games are on sale now! Visit the Germain Arena Box Office M-F from 10-6 to purchase tickets, or order online at www.ticketmaster.com. Visit www.floridaeverblades.com and www.germainarena.com or call 239-948-PUCK for more information on group ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.
The Everblades return to action on Thursday, February 19 when they take on the Charlotte Checkers at 7:00 p.m. from Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, NC.
ECHL Stories from February 17, 2009
- Gladiators Jersey Auction A Success Raising over $32,000 for charity - Atlanta Gladiators
- Blades stymied by Jakaitis' 50 saves, fall 4-0 to Checkers - Florida Everblades
- ECHL Ticket Sales Sales Staff Award Honors Thunder - Stockton Thunder
- Jakaitis brilliant shutting out Florida, 4-0 - Charlotte Checkers
- Ontario Reign Weekly - Ontario Reign
- Condors win season best four in row, six of last seven - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors welcome David Carr and the Veggie Tales to The Nest on Saturday - Bakersfield Condors
- Rookie Bina Summoned to Springfield - Stockton Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - February 17th - ECHL
- Stockton Receives January Ticket Sales Staff Award - ECHL
- Ian Keserich Wins Goalie of the Week Award - Johnstown Chiefs
- Gladiators Jersey Auction A Success - Atlanta Gladiators
- Wirll named ECHL Player of the Week - Bakersfield Condors
- Bakersfield's Wirll Named In Glas Co ECHL Player Of The Week - ECHL
- Johnstown's Keserich Named Reebok ECHL Goaltender Of The Week - ECHL
- B2 Announces ECHLTV Schedule For February 17-24 - ECHL
- James Reimer Reassigned to Toronto Marlies - Reading Royals
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Utah Falls 4-3 To Bakersfield In Shootout - Utah Grizzlies
- Fukufuji and Condors win in shootout, 4-3 - Bakersfield Condors
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