Everblade Kevin Baker Nets Hat Trick with OT Game-Winner Against South Carolina
Published on February 27, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
Estero, Fla - Florida's Kevin Baker smashed the South Carolina Stingrays with a double whammy, recording a hat trick that doubled as the game-winning goal in overtime for a 5-4 victory on Saturday night at Germain Arena. The Everblades overcame a 3-0 first period deficit, handing the league leaders a loss in the first of two games this weekend.
The South Carolina Stingrays raced ahead of Florida early on with three unanswered goals in the first period. Forward Gregg Johnson recorded the first tally at 7:49 with assists going to forward Keith Johnson and defenseman Johann Kroll. Keith Johnson followed up with a goal of his own at 16:53, driving the puck into the corner of the net manned by Florida goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu. Kroll was credited with his second straight assist. Keith Johnson and Kroll struck again in the last minute of the first stanza for Johnson's 25th goal of the season. The period ended with South Carolina leading Florida 3-0.
The Everblades kickstarted their offense in the second period when Milan Gajic put the 'Blades on the board for the first time in the contest at 4:45. Gajic, assisted by defenseman Ryan VanBuskirk and captain Ross Carlson, blasted the puck straight into the center of Stingray Shane Connelly's net. Carlson's assist was his 38th point of the season, maintaining his title as the Everblades' overall leading scorer. The remainder of the period went without a goal by either team, the buzzer sounding as a scrap erupted between Florida's Brady Calla and Stingray Spencer Carbery. The second stanza ended with Florida trailing 3-1.
Florida's Kevin Baker didn't waste any time in the beginning of the third period, recording his 10th goal of the season at 1:34. Gajic was credited with an assist, helping Florida inch closer to South Carolina's lead at 3-2. South Carolina responded on the power play two minutes later with a goal by forward Jake Hauswirth, the helpers going to Kroll and defenseman Dylan Yeo. Thirty-six seconds later, the ping-pong play continued as Baker put the puck past South Carolina's Connelly. Baker's second tally was assisted by Gajic and Carlson. Everblade veteran Ernie Harlieb erased the deficit with a goal at 11:46 leveling the score at 4-4. Gajic and Paquet recorded the assists. Regulation play ended and the teams headed to a four-on-four five-minute overtime session.
Florida took advantage of an overtime power play when Kevin Baker slammed the puck into South Carolina's net, recording not only a game- winning goal, but a hat trick that sealed the 'Blades' victory at 5-4.
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