Everblades suffer tough-luck 3-2 loss to Texas
March 30, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
BEAUMONT, TX - The Florida Everblades (40-21-6) saw their grasp on first place slip after a hard-fought, but tough-luck 3-2 loss to the Texas Wildcatter (39-20-9) on Friday night at Ford Arena in front of a crowd of 2,455. A quick-paced first period saw the Wildcatters open with the game with lots of offensive pressure, but big saves by Everblades goaltender Craig Kowalski kept the game scoreless, setting up the Everblades to draw first blood. Dustin Johner tallied his team-leading 28th goal of the season at 5:35 by slipping a shot from the inside of the right circle through traffic and past Texas goalie Matt Yeats. Jon Lehun and Derek Damon assisted on the tally. Texas however responded late in the first period to tie the score. While on their fourth power play of the period, Mike Bayrack deflected a shot at the left post past Kowalski with 30 seconds remaining in the frame.
The second period started in much the same manner as the first did with Texas bringing heavy pressure, but again the Everblades tallied the first goal of the frame. Ryan Brindley's long pass up the right side of the ice was taken by Adam Taylor at the offensive blue line and was carried in through the right circle where he tucked a back-hander past Yeats for the 2-1 lead at 4:04 of the period. The Wildcatters once again answered back with a power play goal that came at 14:35 of the period when Brandin Cote converted on a 2-on-1 rush to tie the game.
The game remained tied entering the third period where the Wildcatters tallied the eventual game-winning goal at 5:27 when Cote deflected the puck in, with what appeared to be a high-stick. Despite the argument from the Everblades the goal was allowed to stand by the referee. From there, the Everblades battled to get the tying goal, and had their best while short-handed for the seventh time in game in the final 30 seconds of the contest when Mike Card was robbed by the glove of Yeats from the right side of the crease.
In net, Kowalski suffered the tough-luck loss allowing the three goals on 32 shots to see his record fall to 26-12-4. Yeats collected his 30th win by turning away 29 of 31 Florida shots.
On the power play, the Everblades finished the game 0-for-2, while the Wildcatters closed out the game 2-for-8.
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