Everblades Meet Adirondack in Rematch of 2018 Eastern Conference Final
February 6, 2019 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, Fla. - In their first home series against a North Division team this season, the Florida Everblades (32-9-5-0, 69 pts.) start a six-game homestand with the first tilt of a three-game set against the Adirondack Thunder (25-16-3-2, 55 pts.) on Wednesday night at Hertz Arena.
VITALS:
Game 47: Everblades vs. Adirondack
When: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Hertz Arena
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Watch: ECHL.tv
Listen: WJBX
Social: Twitter | #ADKvsFLA
Last Time Out
Matt Finn matched his season high with three points (1g-2a), Jeremy Helvig made 23 saves, and Florida scored once on the power play and once shorthanded to beat Greenville, 4-1, on Saturday. The 'Blades scored twice in the first period and twice more in the second period to close out the regular season series against the Swamp Rabbits with a perfect 10-0-0-0 record. John McCarron (1g-1a) and Blake Winiecki (2a) also added multi-point efforts.
BOX SCORE | RECAP
Players to Watch
Matt Finn (FLA) - In his second year with the Everblades, Finn leads all 'Blades defensemen with an average of 0.70 points per game. He is coming off his second three-point game of the season and has at least one point in seven of his last 10 games. Finn's best offensive season in the ECHL was a 32-point campaign in the 2016-17 season with the then-Missouri Mavericks.
Alex Sakellaropoulos (ADK) - The second-year-pro has been the go-to option in net for the Thunder this season and has appeared in 25 games. Sakellaropoulos is seventh in the league with a .921 save percentage and is eighth among league goaltenders with a 2.35 goals-against-average. After going without a win in four straight starts from Dec. 7-15, Sakellaropoulos now has victories in nine of his last 11 appearances.
Series history
Wednesday is the first-ever regular season meeting between the two teams at Hertz Arena. Including this week's series, Florida and Adirondack have faced off in three consecutive seasons. Although the 'Blades went 1-1-0-1 in last year's three-game set in the regular season from Jan. 24-27, they went on to top the Thunder in five games in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final. Florida split its two home games in that series, earning a 4-3 win in Game 1 before falling in overtime, 3-2, in Game 2. Florida is 2-2-1 all-time against the Thunder in the regular season.
Mixin' It Up
After going 44 games without playing a North Division opponent, Florida will play five of its next six games against North Division teams. The Everblades' schedule includes just 10 total games outside of the South Division this year. Florida is currently 3-2-0 against non-divisional foes and is 1-1-0 against the North Division. The 'Blades hold a 28-19-3 all-time record against current North Division teams, a point percentage of .590.
Holy Helvig!
Florida goaltender Jeremy Helvig, who is Wednesday's probable starter, was named on Monday the Howies Hockey Tape ECHL Rookie of the Month for January. The Hurricanes prospect is currently riding a 12-game personal winning streak, which is tied for the fourth-longest streak in ECHL history. He has allowed more than two goals just twice since the streak started in a 3-2 win over the Jacksonville Icemen on Dec. 5. Helvig posted a 6-0-0 record, three shutouts, a 1.22 goals-against-average, and .954 save percentage in January.
Home Ice Advantage
In addition to scoring the first goal more often at home - Florida has scored first in 65 percent of home games compared to 50 percent of road games - the 'Blades have also shown a better knack for winning when they've allowed the first goal on home ice. Florida is 6-1-0-0 this season at home when its opponent has struck for the initial tally and just 5-7-1-0 on the road when its opponent finds twine first.
Next Up
Following a day off on Thursday, Florida resumes the three-game series with Adirondack on Friday with a 7:30 p.m. tilt. The series finale is slated for 7 p.m. on Saturday.
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