Blades win 5-3 Thriller over Florence
November 21, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades opened a two game series with a thrilling 5-3 victory against the Florence Pride in front of 5,284 at TECO Arena. After blowing a 3-0 lead Florida forward Brian McCullough picked up a rebound off a Brent McDonald shot and fired it into the top of the net to break a 3-3 tie with under three minutes remaining. McCullough's 11th goal of the year ties him with fellow linemate Keith Anderson for the team lead in goals.
The theme of this game early was defense for Florida. The Blades defense held Florence without a shot for nearly the first 15 minutes of the opening period. While the defense played it's part the offense was busy lighting the lamp.
Carl Mallette got the scoring started six minutes in when he banged home a rebound off a Jay Legault shot. Mallette's fourth goal of the year made it 1-0 Blades. Four minutes later Florida's Brent McDonald made it 2-0 when he intercepted a clearing pass in the Florence zone and fired the puck past net minder Matt Underhill for his eighth goal of the year. The Florida offense added one more goal on the power play goal when Legault fed a beautiful cross ice pass through the crease that Mallette banged home for his second goal of the game and the Blades were up 3-0 after one period.
In the second period Florence began it's comeback when the offense awakened firing 19 shots on goal but produced only one goal. That goal came at the 15:01 mark when Pride forward Shaun Sutter poked a loose puck behind goalie Rob Zepp (37 saves) on the power play. The Everblades maintained the two goal lead through two periods.
Florence pulled to within 3-2 just under three minutes into the final period when Mike Souza gathered a rebound and stuck it behind Zepp for his sixth goal of the season. The persistent Pride pulled even at the 13:35 mark when Allan Sirois banged home his third goal of the year among a crowd of players making the score 3-3.
The Everblades and Florence will meet again at TECO Arena tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.
3 Stars:
1 - McCullough
2 - Mallette
3 - Zepp
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