ECHL Florida Everblades

Everblades win second straight on the road, knock off Toledo 4-1

November 3, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


TOLEDO, OH - The Florida Everblades (4-2-0) used three third period goals and 36 saves by goaltender Craig Kowalski to win their second straight road game 4-1 over the Toledo Storm (4-2-0) on Friday night at the Toledo Sports Arena in front of a crowd of 4,879.

The first-ever meeting between the Everblades and Storm opened with an entertaining first period that featured good chances and plenty of hitting by both sides. The lone first period goal came off the stick of Everblades rookie forward Derek Damon who tallied with 21 seconds remaining in the period after wristing a shot past Toledo net-minder Dominic Vicari. The goal was Damon's first professional goal and Dustin Johner and Vince Bellissimo helped out with the assists.

The Storm began the second period with a goaltending change after Vicari left with an injury. Logan Koopmans took over between the pipes and watched the Storm even the game when Matt Zultek notched his second goal of the season by slipping a shot from the right circle between the pads of Kowalski at 8:05. Despite being out-shot 16-2 in the period, the Everblades allowed just the one goal and killed off all five Toledo power play's in the period.

After with-standing the second period onslaught by the Storm, the Everblades broke open the game in the third with three goals. Mike Angelidis tallied the eventual game-winner at 8:23 jamming a rebound past Koopmans. Brent McDonald and Brett Peterson picked up the assists. Reggie Berg gave the ‘Blades some breathing room when his shot from outside the blue line snuck under the cross bar for a 3-1 lead with 4:59 left in the period, and McDonald sealed the win for the Everblades with a 5-on-3 power play goal at 17:21. Berg and Ernie Hartlieb assisted on McDonald's second goal of the season.

Kowalski, who earned the first star of the game, played magnificently for the Everblades stopping 36 of 37 shots to win his first of the season and raise his record to 1-2-0. Koopmans took the loss playing the final 40 minutes and allowing the three third period goals on 19 shots, dropping his record to 3-2-0. Vicari stopped 10 of 11 shots he faced in the first period.

On the power play, the Everblades closed out night 1-for-7, while the Storm continued to struggle on the power play, failing to convert on any of their 11 chances with the man advantage.

The Florida Everblades, proud affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers, continue their four-game road trip on Saturday, November 4 when they travel to Dayton, OH to take on the Bombers at 7:00 p.m. The Everblades' next home game is Friday, November 10 vs. the Columbia Inferno.

Florida Everblades full season tickets & mini-plans are now available! Reserve your seat for all the exciting action today by calling (239) 948-7825. Visit www.floridaeverblades.com and www.germainarena.com for more information on group ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.

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ECHL Stories from November 3, 2006


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