Everblades Weekly
December 25, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades finished this past week with a pair of home wins to keep their grasp on first place in the South Division with a record of 17-7-1 (35 pts).
THIS WEEK (All Times Eastern)
Tuesday, December 27 at Augusta Lynx 7:05 p.m.
GAME NOTES: The Everblades take on Lynx for the fifth of nine times on Tuesday night from the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center in Augusta, GA. The game is also the second of five in Augusta between the South Division rivals. The Everblades lead the season series, having won all four games played between the teams. Florida earned home wins of 3-2 (Nov. 4), 4-3 (SO, Nov. 5), and 6-4 (Dec. 10) and picked up a 7-1 victory in Augusta the last time the teams met on Dec. 14. In the season series, the Everblades have converted on 28% of their power play chances, while killing off 95% of Augusta opportunities with the man advantage. The Lynx enter this week's action with a record of 12-14-2 (26 pts., 6th South Division) and are 8-6-0 on home ice. Florida holds an all-time record of 36-10-6 vs. Augusta and is 15-6-3 all-time on the road vs. the Lynx.
Wednesday, December 28 at Pensacola Ice Pilots 8:05 p.m.
GAME NOTES: The Everblades make their first trip of the season to Pensacola on Wednesday when the South Division rivals face-off for the fourth of 12 times this season. The Eveblades lead the season series 3-0-0, having earned wins on home ice of 4-2 (Dec. 9), 5-2 (Dec. 21) and 5-3 (Dec. 23). The Everblades have outscored Pensacola 14-7 in the three games, and have converted on 38.9% of their power play chances vs. the Ice Pilots. Pensacola begins the week with a record of 10-13-3 (23 pts., 8th South Division) and is
7-6-0 at the Pensacola Civic Center this year. Florida holds an all-time record of 28-11-9 vs. Pensacola and is 11-7-3 all-time on the road vs. the Ice Pilots.
Friday & Saturday, December 30 & 31 vs. Gwinnett Gladiators Both Games 7:30 p.m.
GAME NOTES: The Everblades take on the Gladiators for the fifth and sixth times this season and the third and fourth of six at Gemain Arena. The season series is tied 2-2-0 with the home team winning each game this season. Gwinnett opened the season series with home wins over Florida of 5-2 & 3-1 on Nov. 11 & 12. The Everblades responded with home wins of 6-4 & 5-2 on Dec. 2 & 3. The teams have each scored 14 goals in the season series. Gwinnett enters the week with a recod of 13-6-4 (30 pts., T2nd South Division) and is 4-5-2 on the road this year. Florida holds an all-time record of 6-7-3 vs. Gwinnett and is 4-1-3 all-time at home vs. the Gladiators.
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
Wednesday, December 21 vs. Pensacola Ice Pilots 5-2 Win
The Everblades used four power play goals to extend their franchise record home winning streak to 11 with a 5-2 victory over the Pensacola Ice Pilots on Wednesday night at Germain Arena. After allowing a pair of first period goals to the Ice Pilots, the Everblades rebounded with four power play goals in the middle period to help propel them to their second straight win overall. The Everblades exploded out of the gate in the second period watching Kevin Bergin collect his ninth goal of the year just 1:17 into the frame. Bogdan Rudenko then tied the game at two at 6:38 and Jon Lehun sent the crowd of 5,363 into a frenzy by giving Florida the lead for good just 1:08 later with his sixth goal of the year, and Florida's third power play marker of the period. The Everblades closed out the scoring in the period when Ernie Hartlieb converted a 5-on-3 power play goal with 1:41 remaining in the middle period. The Everblades then closed out the scoring with an empty net goal by Phil Aucoin with 25 seconds remaining in the game. Goaltender Craig Kowalski picked up his eighth win in his last nine games by turning away 33 of 35 Pensacola shots. Florida Special Teams: PP: 4-for-8; PK: 5-for-6.
Thursday, December 22 vs. Pensacola Ice Pilots 5-3 Win
The Everblades picked up another come-from-behind win to extend their home winning streak to 12 games after a 5-3 victory over the Pensacola Ice Pilots on Thursday night at Germain Arena. For the second consecutive night, the Everblades watched the Ice Pilots jump out to a 2-0 lead after the first 20 minutes, but just as they did in the previous meeting between the teams, the Everblades countered with a pair of goals in the first 10 minutes of the second period to tie the game at two. Bogdan Rudenko got the Everblades on the board at 4:52 of the middle period and Nick Vukovic evened the score with his fourth goal of the season at 9:32. The Ice Pilots responded though at 11:41 to regain the lead, but Florida once again batted back to tie the game when Jon Lehun fired home a shot from the left circle at 14:54 sending the teams to the locker rooms tied at three after two periods. In the third period the Everblades special teams came through. The âBlades notched their only power play goal of the night at 7:02 on Kevin Bergin's 10th goal of the season, giving Florida their first lead of the night, and the Blades then closed out the scoring with their sixth short-handed goal of the year after Chris Lee tallied at 15:05. In goal, Craig Kowalski earned his ninth win in his last 10 games by stopping 34 of 37 Pensacola shots, which raised his record to 11-5-0. Florida Special Teams: PP: 1-for-4; PK: 7-for-8.
EVERBLADES ITINERARY:
Monday, Dec. 26: Practice, 10:00 a.m. @ Germain Arena
Tuesday, Dec. 27: GAME vs. Augusta, 7:05 p.m. @ Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center
Wednesday, Dec. 28: GAME vs. Pensacola, 8:05 p.m. @ Pensacola Civic Center
Thursday, Dec. 29: OFF DAY
Friday, Dec. 30: Pre-Game skate, 10:00 a.m. @ Germain Arena
GAME vs. Gwinnett, 7:30 p.m. @ Germain Arena
Saturday, Dec. 31: Pre-Game skate, 10:00 a.m. @ Germain Arena
GAME vs. Gwinnett, 7:30 p.m. @ Germain Arena
Sunday, Jan. 1: OFF DAY
2005-06 EVERBLADES REGULAR SEASON NUMBERS
Quick Stats
Overall Record 17-7-1
Home Record 12-1-0
Road Record 5-6-1
Overtime Record 1-1
Shootout Record 2-0
Power Play 34-141 (3rd)
Penalty Kill 115-138 (9th)
Leading Scorers
Dan Sisca 8-23-31
Ernie Hartlieb 15-14-29
Kevin Bergin 10-14-24
Jon Lehun 7-14-21
Chris Lee 6-14-20
Paul Cabana 12-7-19
Leading Goaltenders
Craig Kowalski 2.83 GAA, 11-5-0
Phil Osaer 3.09 GAA, 6-2-1
Plus/Minus Leaders
Dan Sisca +17
Kevin Bergin +9
John Adams +9
Steve Saviano +5
Paul Cabana +4
Weekly Award Nominee: This week's Everblades ECHL Player of the Week nominee is forward Ernie Hartlieb who collected six points (1g, 5a) in Florida's two games. The 26-year-old native of Warren, Michiga. picked up a goal and two assists in Wednesday's 5-2 win over Pensacola and added three assists in Florida's 5-3 win over the Ice Pilots on Thursday.
Everblades Special Teams Breakdown: After 25 games, here's a look at Florida's special teams breakdown heading into the week: The overall power play is ranked 3rd (34-for-141, 24.1%). At home, the âBlades are ranked 6th (24.7%) and on the road, Florida is ranked 3rd (23.4%). The overall penalty kill is ranked 9th (115-for-138, 83.3%). At home, the Everblades are ranked 12th (85.2%) and on the road the team ranks 10th (80.7%).
Home Ice Advantage!: With their wins this past week, the Everblades stretched their franchise record home winning streak to 12 straight. During the streak, which began on Oct. 29, the Everblades have defeated Las Vegas, Augusta, South Carolina, Charlotte, Gwinnett, and Pensacola. The current franchise record snapped the previous high of nine set during the 1999-2000 season.
Turn on the Power!: The Everblades power play has been red-hot of late. The Everblades begin the week ranked third in the ECHL on the man-advantage. During their past 12 games, the Everblades have scored at least one power play goal in 11 of those contests, helping the team to a 9-2-1 record in that span.
League Leaders: Forward Dan Sisca's 31 points is currently tied for sixth in overall scoring and ranks him third among all rookies in the ECHL. Sisca is also tied for first in the ECHL with his 23 assists...forward Jon Lehun is tied for 10h in rookie scoring with 21 points...defenseman Chris Lee is tied for 10th among ECHL defenseman with 20 points...forward Ernie Hartlieb is tied for 13th among all scorers with his 29 points...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 eight straight games (6g, 8a)...D Ryan Brindley is currently riding a five-game points scoring streak (1g, 5a)...F Kevin Bergin has a points in eight straight games (5g, 8a)...F Paul Cabana has scored a point in seven of the last 11 games (8g, 4a) ...F Jonathan Lehun has currently scored points in 11 of the last 13 games (7g, 8a)...F Dan Sisca is riding a eight-game winning streak (4g, 11a)...D Chris Lee has points in 12 of the last 14 games (6g, 10a) ...G Craig Kowalski has won his last nine of his last ten games played in.
Approaching Milestones: Here's a look at members of the Everblades that are approaching career milestones: F Ernie Hartlieb is four games shy of playing in his 300th career game and is 10 points away from reaching the 200 mark as a pro...F Reggie Berg is 41 games away from reaching the 300 mark in his career and is 47 points shy of 300 in his career...D Ryan Brindley is 30 points away from reaching 300 in his professional career...F Kevin Bergin is two goals away from reaching 50 in his career and is 42 games shy of playing in his 300th professional game...F Paul Cabana is 31 games away from reaching 200 in his career...F Phil Aucoin is seven points from reaching the 100 mark...D Chris Lee is eight games away from skating in his 100th professional game.
Ticket Information: Everblades 2005-06, half season, 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.
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.
ECHL Stories from December 25, 2005
- Gulls back to work after week off - San Diego Gulls
- Everblades Weekly - Florida Everblades
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.
