ECHL Florida Everblades

Blades Tie Rays in East Standings with 4-3 Win

March 21, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL- Rylan Galiardi scored a goal and an assist to help lead the Florida Everblades to a 4-3 win over the South Carolina Stingrays at Germain Arena Wednesday night. With the win, Florida now ties South Carolina with 77 points in the Eastern Conference Standings.

The first period started out looking like it could become a blowout. Florida was able to put up two goals in the first four minutes of the play. The first goal came when Ryan Donald fired a shot from the point, but was stopped by former Florida goaltender Billy Sauer. Scott Pitt immediately found the rebound and was able to fire it into the net for the 1-0 lead.

Florida increased their lead less than two minutes later, when Cedric McNicoll into left side circle and passed the puck his wingman Matt Marquardt whose one-timer beat Sauer giving the Blades a two goal lead. The goal was the 20th of the season for Marquardt.

However, the Stingrays would not be silenced and flipped the script at the eight-minute mark when Billy Ryan attempted to cross the puck thought the crease for a backside pass. Instead hit off the skate of Everblades forward Brayden Irwin and into the net to pull the Rays within one.

South Carolina tied the game up at the 12-minute mark, when a shot from Trent Campbell was stopped by John Muse and quickly rebounded by Patrick Cullen. Cullen saw Muse out of position and fired a wrist shot that found the back of the net, tying the game at two for the remainder of the period. The goal was the first professional goal for Cullen.

Neither team was able to pull ahead in the second period as both teams added another goal. Florida scored first when a slapshot from Sebastian Piche could not be controlled by Sauer and it slipped into the goal for the 3-2 lead. The goal was Piche's first of the season.

The lead would only last for four minutes as South Carolina tied it up again as Cullen scored his second goal of the game on the rebound off a Trent Campbell shot. The score remained tied at three after two periods.

Florida finally secured its lead in the third period when Rylan Galiardi received the puck and skated down the right side. Once into the right side circle he fired a wrist shot which hit the back of the net high giving the Blades a 4-3 lead.

South Carolina's attempts to tie the game again were turned back by the Florida penalty kill remained perfect after stopping a Stingrays five-on-three power play in the game's final three minutes. John Muse earned win stopping 28 of 31 shots while Billy Sauer takes the loss allowing four goals on 24 shot attempts.

To purchase game tickets stop by any Ticketmaster outlet, or the Capital Bank Box Office at Germain Arena. The Capital Bank Box Office is open Monday thru Friday from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Fans may also call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or order online at www.ticketmaster.com

Group ticket packages are also available! Call the Everblades hockey headquarters at 239-948-7825 to order your seats. For upcoming events at Germain Arena, visit their website at www.germainarena.com.

Check out the Florida Everblades Statistics



ECHL Stories from March 21, 2012


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