ECHL Florida Everblades

Everblades Weekly

Published on February 11, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades completed this past week with a 1-1-0 record. The Everblades enter this week's action with a record of 25-19-4 (54 pts., T-4th, South Division.)

UPCOMING GAMES (All times Eastern)

Tuesday, February 12 vs. Augusta Lynx

Game Times: 7:30 p.m.

The Everblades finish off their three-game series vs. Augusta on Tuesday night at Germain Arena. The game is the sixth of seven between the two South Division rivals, and is the last of three at home vs. the Lynx this season. The Everblades are 2-3-0 vs. Augusta this season, and picked up a win the last time the teams met on Feb. 9, 4-1. The Everblades hold an all-time record of 49-16-6 vs. Augusta and are 26-6-3 all-time at home vs. the Lynx. Augusta enters this week with a record of 25-20-4 (54 pts., T-4th, South Division).

PROMOTION:

Tuesday, February 12: YMCA Poster Giveaway! The first 1,500 fans get a player poster card of Everblades forward Derek Damon!

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, February 15-17 vs. Charlotte Checkers

Game Times: 7:30 p.m. (Fri. & Sat.); 6:00 p.m. (Sun.)

The Everblades tie off their six-game home stand with a three-game, in three-nights set vs. the Charlotte Checkers beginning on Friday night. Although half-way through the month of February, the Everblades and Checkers have only met once so-far this season, back on November 16 in Charlotte when the Everblades collected a 5-4 shootout victory. The three games this weekend are the only three between the South Division rivals at Germain Arena this season. The two clubs will wrap up the six-game season series between themselves two weeks from now when the teams meet for a pair in Charlotte. The Everblades hold an all-time record of 24-11-3 vs. Charlotte and are 14-2-0 all-time at home vs. the Checkers. Charlotte enters this week's action with a record of 22-19-5 (49 pts., 6th, South Division.).

PROMOTION:

Sunday, February 17: KIDS DAY!!! All kids in attendance will receive an Everblades back-pack courtesy of Wendy's!

LAST WEEK'S GAMES

Friday, February 8 vs. Augusta Lynx 5-2 Loss

The Everblades suffered their fourth straight loss after a 5-2 defeat on Friday night to the Lynx. The Everblades twice held leads in the game with Brad Brown scoring a first period goal to give Florida a 1-0 lead, and Preston Callander scoring a second period power play goal to give the Everblades a 2-1 lead. Augusta however scored the game's next four goals, three of which came in the third period to pull off the road win. In goal David Shantz stopped 29 of 34 shots. Florida Special Teams: PP: 1-for-7; PK: 7-for-8.

Saturday, Februday 9 vs. Augusta Lynx 4-1 Win

The Everblades snapped their four-game skid on Saturday night with a solid 4-1 win over the Lynx. The Blades came out strong from the drop of the puck scoring the game's first three goals and out-shooting the Lynx 18-3 in the first period and 37-19 through two periods. Derek Damon, Jarret Lukin and Brandon Roach staked the Everblades to a 3-0 eleven minutes into the second period, with Damon & Roach's tallies coming on the power play. After the Lynx found the net with a power play marker of their own, Preston Callander scored Florida's third power play goal of the night with five minutes left in the second period. Goaltender Justin Peters took care of the rest stopping all 11 shots he faced in the third period and stopping a total of 29 shots for the win. Florida Special Teams: PP: 3-for-11; PK: 7-for-8.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE:

Monday, February 11 Practice, 10:00 a.m. @ Germain Arena

Tuesday, February 12 Pre-Game Skate, 10:00 a.m. @ Germain Arena

GAME vs. Augusta Lynx, 7:30 p.m. @ Germain Arena

Wednesday, February 13 Practice, 10:00 a.m. @ Germain Arena

Thursday, February 14 Practice, 10:00 a.m. @ Germain Arena

Friday, February 15 Pre-Game Skate, 10:00 a.m. @ Germain Arena

GAME vs. Charlotte Checkers, 7:30 p.m. @ Germain Arena

Saturday, February 16 Pre-Game Skate, 10:00 a.m. @ Germain Arena

GAME vs. Charlotte Checkers, 7:30 p.m. @ Germain Arena

Sunday, February 17 Pre-Game Skate, TBD

GAME vs. Charlotte Checkers, 6:00 p.m. @ Germain Arena

2007-08 EVERBLADES REGULAR SEASON NUMBERSQuick Stats

Overall Record 25-19-4

Home Record 15-5-3

Road Record 10-14-1

Overtime Record 1-4

Shootout Record 2-0

Power Play 51-279 (10th)

Penalty Kill 254-298 (5th)

Leading Scorers

Derek Damon 18-32-50

Mathieu Melanson 20-22-42

Ernie Hartlieb 15-24-39

David Cornacchia 7-23-30

Preston Callander 10-15-25

Leading Goaltenders

Kevin Nastiuk 2.53 GAA, 1-1-0

Justin Peters 2.62 GAA, 17-10-2

Tyler Plante 2.81 GAA, 4-5-1 David Shantz 3.35 GAA, 3-3-1

Plus/Minus Leaders

Ernie Hartlieb +11

Kirk MacDonald +10

J.D. Forrest +8

Mathieu Melanson +8

Player of the Week Nominee: This week's Everblades Player of the week nominee is Preston Callander who had two goals and one assist in this weekend's action. This week's Goaltender of the Week nominee is Justin Peters who was 1-0-0 with a 1.00 GAA and a .967 save percentage in one appearance.

Special Teams Breakdown: Here's a look at the special teams of the Everblades and how it breaks down overall, home and away: Power play: 51-for-279 (18.3%) which ranks the Everblades 10th in the ECHL. At home the Everblades are 30-for-137 (21.9%) which ranks 4th, and on the road the Everblades are 21-for-142 (14.8%) which ranks 16th. Penalty Kill: 254-for-298 (85.2%) which ranks the Everblades 5th in the ECHL. At home the 'Blades are 123-for-140 (87.9%) which is 4rd in the league and on the road the Everblades have killed off 131 of 158 (82.9%) chances against them which ranks 10th.

Roster Moves: Prior to Friday night's contest, the Everblades got two of their offensive threats back in the line up. Forwards J.B. Bittner and Brad Zancanaro were activated off the injured reserve list. Bittner returned after suffering an injury against South Carolina on January 5. For Zancanaro the game was his first action since suffering a concussion on December 15 vs. Texas.

Milestone Reached!: Everblades F Derek Damon reached the 100 point mark in his career with a three-point night on Feb. 2 at Texas. The Bangor, ME native reached the milestone with an assist. Overall now the 27-year-old has 103 points (40g, 63a) in 108 pro games. With the Everblades Damon has 98 points in 90 games.

Approaching Milestones: Here's a look at upcoming milestones for Everblades players: F Ernie Hartlieb is four goals shy of hitting 100 for his career...D Brad Brown is 15 games away from hitting the 600 mark in his 12-year career...F Derek Damon is two points away from hitting the 100 point mark as an Everblade...D Ryan Van Buskirk is nine points away from the 100-point plateau in his career.

Who's Hot!: Here's a look at who's hot for the Blades entering this week: F Derek Damon has picked up points in 10 of the last 12 games (4g, 12a)...F Mathieu Melanson has registered points in seven of his last ten games (2g, 10a) dating back to Dec. 15, prior to his call up to the AHL...F Preston Callander has points in six of his last nine games (3g, 4a).

Another Graduate!: Former Everblades forward David Brine became the 14th player in Everblades history to play for the Blades and play at least one game in the National Hockey League after making his NHL debut on Saturday, February 3 with the Florida Panthers. The 23-year-old skated 12 shifts for just over eight minutes of action in Florida's 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Brine registered his first NHL point a couple nights later when he collected an assist in Florida's 8-0 pounding of the Toronto Maple Leafs in Toronto. The native of Nova Scotia played with the Everblades in 2006-07, notching 21 points in 52 games. Brine joins Keith Aucoin, Eric Boulton, Shane Hnidy, Greg Koehler, Greg Kuznik, Drew Larman, Chad LaRose, Martin Lojek, Brett Lysak, Eric Manlow, Jason Morgan, Remi Royer and Damian Surma as players to wear both an Everblades jersey and an NHL jersey.

Annual Celebrity Waiter Dinner Set!: The 2007-08 Everblades Celebrity Waiter Dinner has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m. The annual event will once again take place in the Big Cypress Club inside Germain Arena, and will feature Everblades players serving as the waiters for the evening! The cost for the event is $60 per person and it includes dinner and a photograph of you and your guests with your player/waiter by Everblades team photographer Al Larson! Fans interested should contact Ethan May at 239-948-7825 ext. 1500 no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 22.

Everblades 10th Anniversary Season: 2007-08 marks the 10th Anniversary of the Florida Everblades. In their first nine years the Everblades have compiled a record of 379-198-67 in 644 games...the team has never missed the playoffs in their history, and currently have the longest current streak in the ECHL of consecutive playoff appearances...the Everblades have advanced to the Conference Finals three times in the last four years, and made back-to-back appearances in the Kelly Cup Finals in 2004 & 2005...the team has on Brabham Cup title to its name after finishing with the ECHL's best regular season record in 1999-2000, and the club has won two division titles (1999-2000 & 2006-07).

Ticket Information: Experience the excitement of the Everblades 10th Anniversary season! Individual tickets to all Everblades home games are on sale now! Stop by the Germain Arena box office to reserve your seat for all the exciting action! Visit www.floridaeverblades.com and www.germainarena.com for more information on ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.

On the Air: Everblades games, home and away, can be heard on SportsRadio 770 ESPN and via the internet courtesy of Waterman Broadcasting by logging on to www.abc-7.com/sports. In addition, Everblades games can be viewed via the internet thanks to B2 Networks by logging on to www.b2live.com. Join the voice of the Everblades Kevin Reiter as he calls all the action! The Everblades pre-game show begins 20 minutes prior to game time.

Check out the Florida Everblades Statistics

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