ECHL Florida Everblades

Everblades Weekly

Published on January 24, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades closed out this past week's three-game home stand vs. the Reading Royals with a 2-1-0 record. Overall the Everblades enter this week's action with a record of 25-19-2 (52 pts., 2nd South Division).

THIS WEEK (All Times Eastern)

Friday, January 28 at Kalamazoo Wings 7:30 p.m.

GAME NOTES: The Everblades head out on the road following the ECHL All-Star break for a three-game-in-three-nights set starting in Kalamazoo against the Wings. So far this season the Everblades are a perfect 4-0-0 vs. Kalamazoo, winning three times against the Wings at Germain Arena and once at Wings Stadium. The last time the team's met the Everblades picked up a 5-2 win at Kalamazoo in a game that saw Francis Lemieux record a hat-trick. All-time the Everblades are 7-0-2 vs. Kalamazoo and are 2-0-1 all-time on the road against the Wings. Kalamazoo enters this week with a record of 18-17-4 (40 pts., 3rd, North Division).

Saturday & Sunday, January 29 & 30 at Toledo Walleye Sat., 7:00 p.m. / Sun., 4:00 p.m.

The Everblades finish off their quick three-game road trip with a pair of weekend games at Toledo. The games will be the only two between the clubs this season at the Huntington Center. In November the Walleye made a trip to Germain Arena and the Everblades won two of three. All-time the Everblades are 8-3-1 vs. Toledo and are 3-2-1 all-time in Toledo. The Walleye enter this week's action riding a five-game winning streak and an overall record of 18-18-3 (39 pts., 4th North Division).

LAST WEEK'S GAMES

Wednesday, January 19 vs. Reading Royals 7-4 Win

The Everblades returned home for a quick three-game stand against the Royals and took the opener 7-4 to push their win streak to three. Alex Imbeault registered a hat-trick in the win and Matt Beca chipped in two goals and an assist. The Everblades also picked up goals from Mike McKenzie and Cedric McNicoll. In goal Bobby Goepfert notched his third straight win after stopping 32 of 36 shots. Florida Special Teams: PP: 3-of-5; PK: 4-of-5.

Friday, January 21 vs. Reading Royals 4-3 Shootout Win

The Everblades overcame a two-goal deficit entering the third period to pick up their fourth straight win after defeating the Royals in a shootout on Friday night. The Everblades picked up third period goals from David Fischer and Ross Carlson to force a 3-3 tie and send the game to overtime. After neither team scored in overtime the game moved to a shootout where the only goal scored came in Florida's fourth round off the stick of rookie Tony Mosey. Florida's other goal came in the first period from Carlson as well. In net Bobby Goepfert won his fourth straight with 22 saves in regulation and overtime and five stops in the shootout. Florida Special Teams: PP: 0-of-4; PK: 3-of-5.

Saturday, January 22 vs. Reading Royals 5-4 Loss

The Everblades wrapped up their home stand with a disappointing 5-4 loss to the Royals. In a game that saw the teams combine to rack up 150 penalty minutes, thanks in large part to a late first period brawl that saw players from both teams leave their benches to join the fracas, the Royals erased a three-goal deficit to snap their four-game winless streak. The Everblades jumped out to a 4-1 lead early in the second period on a goal by Alex Hutchings and a hat-trick from Francis Lemieux. Reading however answered with four unanswered second period tallies to take the lead, a lead they hung onto through the remainder of the game. In goal Bobby Goepfert took the loss allowing the five goals on 35 shots. Florida Special Teams: PP: 0-of-8; PK: 5-of-7.

EVERBLADES ITINERARY: (all times eastern)

Monday, Jan. 24: OFF DAY - All-Star Break

Tuesday, Jan. 25: OFF DAY - All-Star Break

Wednesday, Jan. 26: Practice, 10:00 a.m. @ Germain Arena (Recreation Rink)

Thursday, Jan. 27: Practice, 9:00 a.m. @ Germain Arena & Travel Day to Kalamazoo

Friday, Jan. 28: GAME at KALAMAZOO, 7:30 p.m. @ Wings Stadium

Saturday, Jan. 29: GAME at TOLEDO, 7:00 p.m. @ Huntington Center

Sunday, Jan. 30: GAME at TOLEDO, 4:00 p.m. @ Huntington Center

2010-11 EVERBLADES REGULAR SEASON NUMBERS

Quick Stats

Overall Record 25-19-2

Home Record 12-8-1

Road Record 13-11-1

Overtime Record 4-0

Shootout Record 4-2

Power Play 44-237 (6th)

Penalty Kill 188-215 (2nd)

Leading Scorers

Francis Lemieux 20-32-52

Mitch Fadden 15-36-51

Alex Imbeault 24-10-34

Mike McKenzie 15-17-32

Matthew Pistilli 15-16-31

Matt Beca 10-16-26

Leading Goaltenders

Bobby Goepfert 2.79 GAA, 17-9-2

Jaroslav Janus 2.98 GAA, 8-10-0

Plus/Minus Leaders

Bobby Raymond +18

David Fischer +14

Matthew Pistilli +13

Player of the Week Nominee: This week's Player of the Week nominee is Francis Lemieux who posted six points (3g, 3a) in three games this past week. Lemieux began the week with three assists in Florida's 7-4 win over Reading on Wednesday, then closed out the week with his second hat-trick of the season on Saturday night.

Special Teams Breakdown: Entering this week, here's a look at the Everblades power play and penalty killing: On the power play the Everblades rank 6th in the ECHL at 18.6 % (44-of-237)...at home the Blades are ranked 7th in the league at 18.7 % (20-of-107)...on the road the Everblades rank 10th at 18.5 % (24-of-130). On the penalty kill the Everblades find themselves 2nd in the ECHL at 87.4 % (188-of-215)...at home the Everblades enter the week ranked 5th at 85.7 % (90-of-105)...on the road the Blades are currently 2nd at 89.1 % (98-of-110).

League Leaders: Coming into this week Everblades forward Francis Lemieux is leading the ECHL in scoring with his 52 points and is now third in the ECHL in assists with his 32. Although he is out indefinitely, Mitch Fadden ranks second in the ECHL in scoring with 51 points and is second in the league in assists (36). Forward Alex Imbeault finds himself in the league lead in goals scored with 24 and leading the ECHL in power play goals with 12. Rookie forward Mike McKenzie is 6th among all first-year players with his 32 points.

Hat's Off!: Everblades forward Francis Lemieux notched his second hat-trick of the season on Saturday night vs. Reading. The three-goal performance was the second this week by a Blade with Alex Imbeault notching one on Wednesday against the Royals. As a team this year the Everblades have recorded five hat-tricks with Lemieux picking up his other three-goal night on December 1 at Kalamazoo. Imbeault's first hat-trick came on October 22 at Greenville and Matthew Pistilli tallied his first career hat-trick on November 28 at Elmira.

Who's Hot: Several Everblades are currently riding hot streaks. F Francis Lemieux has recorded a point in nine of the last 12 games (7g, 9a)...F Alex Imbeault has notched 10 points (7g, 3a) in his last eight games...F Mike McKenzie has recorded points in four of the last five games...F Matt Beca has notched a point in 10 of the last 13 games he's played in (7g, 11a)...F Mathieu Roy has picked up points in four of the last seven games (1g, 4a)...F Ross Carlson has points in six of the last eight (5g, 4a)...F Cedric McNicoll has notched points now in eight of the his last 11 games he's played in (5g, 8a).

Pink in the Rink!: In less than a month the Everblades will be holding their annual "Pink in the Rink" weekend. On February 18 & 19 when the Blades host the Gwinnett Gladiators, the Everblades will team up with local cancer charities to help raise money and awareness in the fight against cancer. The team will wear special jerseys that will be auctioned off live following the game on Saturday, February 19, with proceeds benefiting local SW Florida cancer charities. Additionally Radiology Regional Center will be on hand for Saturday's game and will have their state-of-the-art Mobile Mammo Coach outside the arena from 5-7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for these games!

Ticket Information: Everblades 2010-11 season ticket packages, group tickets and individual game tickets are on sale now! Fans can purchase tickets at the TIB Bank Box Office at Germain Arena, 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 (800) 745-3000, or online at www.ticketmaster.com . For additional information, contact the Everblades office at (239) 948-7825.

On the Air: Everblades games, home and away, can be heard on The Avenue 1410 / 1660 AM and via the internet by logging on to www.floridaeverblades.com . In addition, Everblades games can be viewed via the internet thanks to America One 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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