ECHL Florida Everblades

Blades win shootout thriller 5-4 over Checkers

November 16, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC - The Florida Everblades (7-5-0) snapped their two-game losing skid with an exciting 5-4 come from behind victory over the Charlotte Checkers (6-2-2) on Friday night at Charlotte Bobcats Arena in front of a crowd of 6,236.

The Everblades twice in the third period battled from behind by a goal to force the game into overtime. Ernie Hartlieb's second goal of the night with 56.6 seconds left in regulation tied the game at four. With the goaltender pulled for an extra attacker, Hartlieb's back-hand shot from the right circle found its way into the net and sent the game to the extra session with J.D. Forrest picked up the assist.

The Everblades entered the third period trailing 3-2, but midway through the frame rookie Kyle McAllister tied the contest at three after his shot from the left circle sailed over top of sprawling Charlotte net-minder Miika Wiickman and into the net at 9:43. The game remained tied at three until late in the period when it seemed that the Checkers had managed to steal a win in the contest when Chris Capraro scored on a shot from the right boards with 1:49 left in the third period.

The game opened with a wild first period that saw the teams combine for 11 power play opportunities. The Checkers were able to carry a 2-1 advantage into the first intermission after the first 20-minute segment. Charlotte opened the scoring early in the frame scoring on their first power play of the night when Mark Smith's shot from the top of the right circle snuck past Everblades net-minder Justin Peters at 2:54 for a 1-0 lead.

The Everblades responded by notching a power play goal of their own at 7:27 on Derek Damon's team-leading seventh goal of the season. Damon's goal came off a rebound as he corralled the shot at the bottom of the right circle and lifted it into the open net. Ernie Hartlieb and Steve Ward assisted on the goal. The 1-1 scored however lasted only 14 seconds as Dusty Jamieson tallied an even strength goal at 7:41 to give the Checkers a 2-1 lead.

The Everblades evened the score quickly into the second period on Ernie Hartlieb's power play goal just 1:32 into the frame. Harlieb's fifth goal of the season came after a scrum behind the Charlotte net led to Damon poking the puck free to him. Hartlieb then swung out at the left post and stuffed it past Checkers goaltender Miika Wiickman. The Checkers once again though responded to re-take a one-goal lead on Blake Bellefeuille's third goal of the season at 10:50 of the middle stanza.

In the shootout, the Everblades out-scored the Checkers 3-2 as Damon and Melanson scored in the first three rounds for Florida. The Checkers responded with goal by Bellefeuille and Nathan Gillies sending the shootout tied into the fifth and final round. Everblades defenseman David Cornacchia put Florida on top when his shot snuck past Wiickman, and the win was sealed when Dusty Jamieson's shot for Charlotte sailed over top of the net. With the shootout win the Everblades improved to 2-0 in shootout's this season.

Peters (5-3-0) collected the win in goal for the Everblades stopping 28 of 32 shots in regulation and overtime, and Wiickman (1-1-2) earned a tie in the standings in goal for Charlotte after stopping 26 of 30 shots in regulation and overtime.

On the power play, the Everblades closed out night 2-for-9, while the Checkers finished 1-for-8.

Experience the excitement of the Everblades 10th Anniversary season! The Everblades return to action on Saturday, November 17 when they travel to Charleston to take on the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:05 p.m. from the North Charleston Coliseum. The Everblades return home to Germain Arena on Wednesday, November 21 to host the Pensacola Ice Pilots at 7:30 p.m. 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) Ernie Hartlieb - FLA

2) Mark Smith - CHR

3) Derek Damon - FLA

Check out the Florida Everblades Statistics



ECHL Stories from November 16, 2007


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.

OurSports Central