ECHL Florida Everblades

Blades win 6th straight; Baker hits 100 point mark in 6-3 win

Published on April 1, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades (47-17-5) ran their winning streak to six thanks to a four-goal second period explosion as they sent the Gwinnett Gladiators (30-34-6) returning to Georgia with their tails between the legs with a 6-3 victory on Wednesday night.

The win was Florida's second straight over their South Division rival and allowed the Everblades to finish with a 10-4-0 record vs. Gwinnett this season. Everblade captain Kevin Baker tallied two more goals in the contest to bring his point total this season to 100 and goaltender Kyle Gajewski remained perfect as an Everblade as he improved to 4-0-0 by stopping 21 of 24 shots.

The Everblades got off to a quick start opening a 1-0 lead just 3:47 into the game when Mark Lee one-timed home a shot from the slot off a quick pass from Mathieu Roy. Ross Carlson also collected an assist on Lee's 14th goal of the year.

Andrew Sweetland extended the Everblades lead to 2-0 with a power play goal at 14:33 of the opening period. Milan Gajic fed a beautiful pass from the left circle across to Sweetland at the bottom of the right circle where he one-time the shot past Gladiators net-minder Joe Fallon for his eighth goal of the season.

Before the period ended the Gladiators got on the board with their first power play goal of the night when Dirk Southern wristed a shot from the left circle past Gajewski at 17:42.

At the start of the second period the Gladiators came out strong and picked up an early power play, but the Everblades killed off the penalty then went on the offensive. The first of the four goal barrage came at 3:47 when Baker tallied his league-leading 56th goal with a nifty wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle that snuck past the left shoulder of Fallon. Rookie Drew Paris collected his first professional point with an assist on the tally and Peter Metcalf added a helper as well.

The Everblades increased the lead to 4-1 at 7:58 when Brad Zanon launched a slap shot from the blue line that found its way past a screened Fallon. Roy provided the screen on the doorstep as Zanon's second goal of the year came from the line. Lee and Doug O'Brien assisted on the goal that turned out to be the eventual game-winning goal.

Baker then reached yet another milestone in his career-year when he deflected Dominic D'Amour's shot from the right point off the left post and in at 14:27. The goal was his 57th of the season and his 100th point. It marks the first time an Everblade player has reached the century mark in points and he becomes the 63rd player in ECHL history to record 100 points.

The scoring onslaught finished when Ernie Hartlieb notched his 20th goal of the season with 2:42 remaining in the second period after collecting a rebound off Fallon at the left post and stoking it home. Roy and Carlson assisted on the tally that also led to Fallon being lifted from the game for back up goalie Josh Johnson.

Holding a 6-1 lead going into the third period the Everblades staved off two third period power play goals by Jordan Fox to collect the 6-3 win. Fox's first goal came at 4:13 of the frame and his second came with just five seconds remaining in regulation.

In goal Gajewski improved to 12-11-2 overall this season while Fallon (17-13-2) took the loss allowing the six goals on 26 shots before being lifted late in the second period. Johnson finished out the contest by stopping all six shots he faced.

On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 1-of-7, while Gladiators closed out the game 3-of-5.

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 Friday, April 3 when they host the Mississippi Sea Wolves at 7:30 p.m. from Germain Arena.

3 Stars: 1 - Kevin Baker - FLA 2 - Mark Lee - FLA 3 - Mathieu Roy - FLA

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ECHL Stories from April 1, 2009


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