ECHL Florida Everblades

Everblades Finish Week With Mark in Every Column

Published on February 6, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades dropped finished off this past week with a 1-1-1 record, which puts their overall mark at 27-14-3 (57 pts., 2nd South Division).

THIS WEEK (All Times Eastern)

Friday & Saturday, February 10 & 11 at Pensacola Ice Pilots Both Games 8:05 p.m. GAME NOTES: The Everblades travel to Pensacola for a pair of games this weekend against the Ice Pilots. This weekend's games are the eighth and ninth of 12 between the South Division rivals. So far this season, the Everblades are a perfect 7-0-0 vs. Pensacola. The 'Blades have won games on home ice of 4-2 (Dec. 9), 5-2 (Dec. 21), 5-3 (Dec. 22), 6-3 (Jan. 7) and 4-1 (Jan. 20). At the Pensacola Civic Center, the Everblades have collected wins of: 4-0 (Dec. 28) and 6-1 (Jan. 3). Overall Florida has outscored the Ice Pilots 34-12 and have converted on 32.4% (12-for-37) of their power plays and killed off 44 of 46 power play opportunities for Pensacola. The Ice Pilots enter this week's action with a record of 16-24-5 (37 pts., 7th South Division) and are 9-12-2 at home this season. The Everblades hold an all-time record of 32-11-9 vs. Pensacola, and are 13-7-3 all-time on the road vs. the Ice Pilots.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Wednesday, February 1 vs. Idaho Steelheads 6-4 Loss The Everblades lost their fourth straight game after watching the Idaho Steelheads erase a four-goal deficit to defeat the Everblades 6-4 in front of a crowd of 5,187 at Germain Arena. The Everblades exploded out of the gate scoring three power play goals in the first 11 minutes of the game to carry a 3-0 lead into the locker room after the first period. Kevin Bergin started the scoring tallying his 16th goal of the season just 2:38 into the game. Dustin Johner followed with a pair of goals at 3:08 and 11:09 of the period. In the second period the Everblades extended their lead to 4-0 when Anders Strome tallied at 7:57. Idaho however, responded with six unanswered goals over the final 32 minutes. The Steelheads began the comeback with a power play goal at 11:50 of the second period, and added a short-handed tally at 16:05 to cut the Everblades lead in half. Idaho trimmed Florida's lead to one with 2:06 remaining in the middle period. In the third period Idaho scored early at 2:18 to tie the game at four, then collected the eventual game-winning goal on a 5-on-3 power play goal with 4:34 remaining. The Steelheads sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 22 seconds remaining. In goal, Phil Osaer suffered the loss, allowing five goals on 40 shots knocking his record to 12-7-2. Florida Special Teams: PP: 3-for-9; PK: 6-for-8.

Friday, February 3 vs. Idaho Steelheads 5-4 Shootout Loss The Everblades earned a tie in the standings after falling 5-4 to the Idaho Steelheads in a shootout at Germain Arena. For the second straight game, the Everblades built a three-goal lead against the Steelheads only to watch them battle back. Florida scored quickly to open the game when Dustin Johner tallied just 1:36 into the game. That 1-0 lead held into the second period, when Dan Sisca notched two short-handed goals just 1:40 apart to open the 3-0 lead. Sisca's first short-handed goal came at 5:18, the rookie then tallied his 17th goal of the year at 6:58. For the second straight time however, Idaho battled back to erase the lead by scoring the next four goals. Idaho began the comeback by tallying at 11:30 of the second period. The Steelheads tied the game with a pair of power play goals after a four-minute penalty was called against the Everblades late in the second period. Idaho completed the comeback scoring with just six seconds remaining in the second period on. In the third period, Kevin Bergin tied the game for the Everblades by picking up a rebound and lifting it home at 10:47 of the final frame, sending the game to overtime. Neither team scored in the five-minute overtime period, sending the game to a shootout. In the shootout, Idaho outscored the Everblades 2-1 with the game winner coming in the 7th round. In goal, Kevin Nastiuk got credit for a tie, bringing his record to 2-1-1 after stopping 33 of 37 Idaho shots. Florida Special Teams: PP: 0-for-10; PK: 7-for-9.

Saturday, February 4 vs. Idaho Steelheads 4-3 Win The Everblades snapped their five-game winless streak with a 4-3 win over the Idaho Steelheads in front of a crowd of 6,555 at Germain Arena. In a penalty game filled game that featured 19 total power plays, the Everblades out-dueled the Steelheads in the final game of a three-game series between the 2004 Kelly Cup finalists. Florida opened the scoring with their third short-handed goal in the last two games when Phil Aucoin tallied at 4:33 of the opening period. In the second period, the Steelheads tied the game at one with their first power play goal of the night at 15:37. Florida responded with the first of their three power play goals when Corey Neilson's shot from the point banged off the end glass and ricocheted the Idaho goaltender and into the net with 2:38 left in the period for a 2-1 Everblades lead. Florida extended their lead to 3-1 at 6:48 of the third period when Chris Lee tallied his eighth goal of the season by chipping a shot into the net with the Everblades on the power play. Idaho cut the lead to one with 8:56 remaining in regulation, but Florida once again grabbed a two goal advantage on Neilson's second power play goal of the night at 15:24. Idaho battled back to trim the lead to 4-3 while on the power play and with the goaltender pulled for the extra attacker with 30 seconds remaining in regulation. D'Arcy McConvey managed to jam the puck free in a goal mouth scramble with 30 seconds left in regulation. Despite a mad rush in the final half minute, the Steelheads couldn't find the tying goal. Phil Osaer earned the win in net for the Everblades by stopping 35 of 38 Idaho shots, and raising his record to 13-7-2. Florida Special Teams: PP: 3-for-8; PK: 9-for-11.

EVERBLADES ITINERARY: Monday, Feb. 6: Practice, 12:00 p.m. @ Germain Arena Tuesday, Feb. 7: Practice, 10:00 a.m. @ Germain Arena Wednesday, Feb. 8: Practice, 10:00 a.m. @ Germain Arena Thursday, Feb. 9: Travel Day to Pensacola Friday, Feb. 10: GAME vs. Pensacola Ice Pilots, 8:05 p.m. @ Pensacola Civic Center Saturday, Feb. 11: GAME vs. Pensacola Ice Pilots, 8:05 p.m. @ Pensacola Civic Center Sunday, Feb. 12: OFF DAY

2005-06 EVERBLADES REGULAR SEASON NUMBERSQuick Stats Overall Record 27-14-3 Home Record 16-6-2 Road Record 11-8-1 Overtime Record 3-2 Shootout Record 2-1 Power Play 56-259 (4th) Penalty Kill 223-267 (9th)

Leading Scorers Dan Sisca 17-33-50 Ernie Hartlieb 16-26-42 Kevin Bergin 17-22-39 Corey Neilson 10-23-33 Jon Lehun 11-20-31 Steve Saviano 10-21-31

Leading Goaltenders Craig Kowalski 2.80 GAA, 12-6-0 Kevin Nastiuk 3.11 GAA, 2-1-1 Phil Osaer 3.25 GAA, 13-7-2

Plus/Minus Leaders

Dan Sisca +15 Steve Saviano +10 Paul Cabana +9 John Adams +9 Kevin Bergin +9

Weekly Award Nominee: This week's Everblades ECHL Player of Week nominee is Dan Sicia who scored five points (2g, 3a) in Florida's three games this past week. The 22-year-old rookie scored two short-handed goals in Florida 5-4 shootout loss on Feb. 3 and added an assists in each of the other two games for the Everblades this past week.

Everblades Special Teams Breakdown: After 44 games, here's a look at Florida's special teams breakdown heading into the week: The overall power play is ranked 4th (56-for-259, 21.6%). At home, the 'Blades are ranked 8th (21.2%) and on the road, Florida is ranked 3rd (22.3%). The overall penalty kill is ranked 9th (223-for-267, 83.5%). At home, the Everblades are ranked 5th (84.2%) and on the road the team ranks 14th (82.4%).

Out of Conference Experience: This past week's series against Idaho marked the fifth and final opponent the Everblades play this season from the National Conference. The Everblades are 5-4-1 vs. National Conference opponents this year. Florida is 1-1 vs. Las Vegas, 2-0 vs. Stockton, 1-0 vs. Bakersfield, 0-2 vs. Fresno and 1-1-1 vs. Idaho. Since the former WCHL merged with the ECHL, the Everblades have gone 11-9-2 against western teams.

What a Month!: Everblades forward Steve Saviano was named the ECHL Player of the Month for January. Saviano, who is currently on call-up to the Lowell Lock Monsters of the American Hockey League, tallied 17 points (5g, 12a) in eight games with the Everblades during January. The 24-year-old finished the month with a plus-5 rating, three power play goals and two game-winning goals. In 17 total games with the Everblades this year, Saviano has picked up 31 points (10g, 21a) and has notched a point in 14 of those 17 games.

Turn on the Power!: Over their three-game series with the Idaho Steelheads, the Everblades scored a total of six power play goals and tallied three short-handed goals. On the power play, the Everblades were 6-for-27. Power play's were in order overall during the three-game set, with the two teams combining for 55 power play opportunities!

League Leaders: Everblades forward Dan Sisca is tied for 8th in overall scoring with his 50 points and tied for second among rookies in scoring, he is also second in the ECHL with his five short-handed goals and leads ...defenseman Corey Neilson is tied for seventh in scoring among ECHL defenseman with his 33 points...defenseman Chris Lee is tied for 10th among ECHL defenseman with 28 points...forward Ernie Hartlieb is tied for the league lead with three power play goals in one game... as a team, the Everblades are tied for the league lead with five power play goals in one game, and hold the longest streak for consecutive home wins with 12.

Who's Hot: Forward Ernie Hartlieb has picked up points in nine of his last 12 games (1g, 11a)...F Kevin Bergin has a points in nine of the last ten games (5g, 7a)...F Dan Sisca has points in five straight games (5g, 3a) and in six of his last seven (6g, 4a)...F Paul Cabana has scored a point in six of his last eight games (5g, 5a) ...F Phil Aucoin has 12 points (7g, 5a) in his last 14 games.

Milestones: Everblades forward Ernie Hartlieb registered his 200th career point on Wednesday night vs. the Idaho Steelheads with an assist on Florida's fourth goal of the night. Overall in his six years as a pro, Hartlieb has notched 71 goals and added 129 assists in 310 games...Forward Phil Aucoin skated in his 100th career game on Friday night against the Steelheads. Aucoin has 102 points (37g, 66a) in his two pro years.

Approaching Milestones: Here's a look at members of the Everblades that are approaching career milestones: F Reggie Berg is 47 points shy of 300 in his career...D Ryan Brindley is 26 points away from reaching 300 in his professional career...F Kevin Bergin is 23 games shy of playing in his 300th professional game...F Paul Cabana is 18 games away from reaching 200 in his career...D Corey Neilson is three goals shy of his 100th in his pro career.

How Are They Doing?: Here's a look at how the Everblades players that earned call-ups to the AHL this season are doing: Forward Kevin Estrada has eight points (2g, 6a) in 35 games with the Lowell Lock Monsters ...goaltender Craig Kowalski is 3-2-2 in his seven games with Lowell, registering a 3.21 GAA and .916 save percentage...forward Drew Larman has collected 14 points (6g, 8a) in 26 games with Rochester...defenseman and forward Steve Saviano has picked up nine points (6g, 3a) in 23 total games with the Lock Monsters.

Coach's Show: The next addition of "Blades Talk", the Everblades coach's show will take place on Monday, February 6 from 7-8 p.m. from Stevie Tomato's Sports Page in Ft. Myers. Fans can join the voice of the Everblades Kevin Reiter and associate coach Jason Nobili live! Monday's guest will be Everblades forward Kevin Bergin. The show can also be heard live on SportsRadio 770 AM and via the internet at www.floridaeverblades.com.

Ticket Information: Everblades 2005-06, group tickets and individual game tickets are on sale now! Fans can purchase tickets at the Germain Arena box office, which is open from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets can also be purchased over the phone by calling TicketMaster at (239) 334-3309, or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For additional information, contact the Everblades office at (239) 948-7825.

Next Telecast: The next Everblades game on TV will be Saturday, February 25 vs. the Gwinnett Gladiators. The game can been seen locally on UPN-8 beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Everblades On The Air: The Florida Everblades are broadcast on Sportsradio 770 AM and on the web at www.floridaeverblades.com. Join the "Voice of the Everblades" Kevin Reiter for all the play-by-play action. The Florida Lottery pre-game show begins 20 minutes before face-off.

Check out the Florida Everblades Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from February 6, 2006


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