Buckley's Hat Trick Gives Blades 2-0 Series Lead
Published on April 8, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ROANOKE, VA - The Florida Everblades (2-0-0) defeated the Roanoke Express (0-1-0) 6-3 in front of 1,958 at the Roanoke Civic Center in Game #2 of the Southern Division Semi-Finals on Thursday night. Florida now has a 2-0 lead in the best of five first round series. Florida forward Tom Buckley picked up a hat trick in the Blades second road win of the series. Game #3 will be played on Friday night at 7:30 PM at TECO Arena in Estero, Florida.
In the first period, the Everblades grabbed a 1-0 lead when Tom Buckley tipped in a point shot from defenseman Tim O'Connell at the 3:21 mark of the period. Forwards Reggie Berg and defenseman Tim O'Connell picked up the assists on Buckley's second goal of the post season. The Blades then made it 2-0 when Brent McDonald's hit in the neutral zone sent Keith Anderson and Brian McCullough into the offensive end and McCullough eventually blasted the puck into the top right corner at the 16:14 mark of the period.
In the second period. Roanoke came back and made it 2-1 after forward Carl Mallette screened Florida netminder Jeff Maund and defenseman Josh Barker slipped a shot from the point into the net at the 11:40 mark.
In the third period, the Express tied the game at 2-2 just :51 seconds in on a goal from forward Dan Carlson. Florida regained a 3-2 lead when defenseman Tim O'Connell skated in all alone and slipped a backhand past Belitski at the 4:08 mark of the period. Florida then made it 4-2 after Ryan Brindley one timed a Keith Anderson pass into the net at the 6:00 mark of the third period. The Express then made it 4-3 on the power play on a goal of the stick of forward Dan Carlson. The Blades then picked up two goals from Tom Buckley late in the third period to make it 6-3 and take a 2-0 series lead.
Florida goaltender Jeff Maund (1-0-0) stopped 37 of 40 shots he faced while Roanoke netminder David Belitski (0-2-0) stopped 28 of 34 shots. The Everblades were 0 for 5 on the power play while the Express were 1 for 7.
The Everblades take on the Express in Game #3 in the best of five series at TECO Arena on Friday night in Estero, Florida at 7:30 PM. Blades games can be heard on 770 AM and via the Internet on www.floridaeverblades.com, www.nbc-2.com and www.abc-7.com and inside TECO Arena in 96.5 FM. For single game tickets call Ticketmaster at (239) 334-3309 or group and season tickets please call 239-948-7825. For more information on upcoming TECO Arena events log on to www.tecoarena.com.
3 Stars:
1 - Buckley - FLA
2 - Anderson - FLA
3 - O'Connell - FLA
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