Fitzmagic and Pendenza Lift Blades Past Stingrays in OT
January 28, 2023 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, Fla. - Joe Pendenza took a cross ice pass from Robert Calisti, displayed some nifty footwork and scored the game-winning goal with 1:37 to play in overtime to lift the Florida Everblades to a thrilling 2-1 victory over the South Carolina Stingrays in front of a sellout throng of 7,299 Blades fans Saturday night at Hertz Arena, the sixth crowd of more than 7,000 enthusiastic Blades fans to enjoy a game at The Swamp this season.
On his 25th birthday, Evan Fitzpatrick continued to sparkle in goal for the Everblades, posting a season-high 40 saves - one night after recording a season-high, 38-save victory over the Stingrays - to win his fifth-straight game and improve to 6-1 on the season.
Winners of six straight home games, the Everblades have won all five contests versus the Stingrays this season.
Tempers boiled over from Friday night, as the Everblades' Austin Crossley decisively outpointed Benton Maass of the Stingrays at the opening faceoff, with both combatants earning fighting majors before any time came off the clock.
Following the fisticuffs, scoring in the first period was hard to come by, but for the first time in five meetings between the clubs this season, South Carolina struck first as Josh Wilkins beat Fitzpatrick at the 17:54 mark to put the Stingrays ahead 1-0, their only lead in the five-game season series.
In the opening frame, the visitors outshot Florida 18-8 as Fitzpatrick registered 17 saves in the first 20 minutes, one night removed from an impressive 38-save performance in his return to the Blades' lineup after being sidelined for 24 games.
The Everblades knotted the score at 1-1 in the second period, as Brad Morrison picked up his sixth tally at the 11:41 mark, banging home the puck off a faceoff won by Joe Pendenza, who notched his team-leading 26th assist of the season.
Neither team managed to score in the third period, although the Everblades had numerous chances in the final two minutes while enjoying a two-man advantage, setting up the Blades' ninth overtime game this season.
With the three-game sweep in the rear-view mirror, the Everblades will enjoy a five-day respite before lacing up the skates for road games against the Jacksonville Icemen and the Orlando Solar Bears next Friday and Saturday, respectively. The puck drops for both games at 7:00 p.m. Following the two away contests, the Blades will be back home at Hertz Arena for a 7:30 p.m. contest versus Jacksonville on Wednesday, February 8.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from January 28, 2023
- Railers Sweep Home-and-Home off Moran's 31 Saves - Worcester Railers HC
- Americans Win Second Straight Against Oilers - Tulsa Oilers
- Growlers Sweep Cyclones with 3-1 Win - Newfoundland Growlers
- Cyclones Fall to Growlers, 3-1 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Fuel Lose Overtime Battle to Icemen - Indy Fuel
- Heartlanders Take 42 Shots, Fall 2-1 to Fanti & Fort Wayne - Iowa Heartlanders
- Nailers Gallop Past Mavericks, 6-2 - Wheeling Nailers
- Walleye Reach 500 All-Time Regular Season Wins with Home Shutout - Toledo Walleye
- Stingrays Fall in Overtime Heartbreaker to Blades - South Carolina Stingrays
- K-Wings Suffer Road Loss to Surging Walleye - Kalamazoo Wings
- Fitzmagic and Pendenza Lift Blades Past Stingrays in OT - Florida Everblades
- Schultz Scores Twice In Thunder 5-3 Win Over Lions - Adirondack Thunder
- Mariners Bounce Back, Sink Admirals - Maine Mariners
- Admirals Can't Solve DiPietro, Mariners Take Game Two - Norfolk Admirals
- Transactions: Cleveland (AHL) Recalls the Loan of Forward Erik Bradford - Kalamazoo Wings
- Mann Heads Back to Barracuda - Wichita Thunder
- Grizzlies Gameday: Guns and Hoses Night at Maverik Center - Utah Grizzlies
- ECHL Transactions - January 28 - ECHL
- Syracuse Crunch Loan Defenseman Tyson Feist to Solar Bears - Orlando Solar Bears
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspension - ECHL
- Wichita Closes Three-Game Series Tonight in Idaho - Wichita Thunder
- Game Notes: at Utah - Rapid City Rush
- Game Preview: Stingrays at Everblades, January 28 at 7:00 PM - South Carolina Stingrays
- Going for Win #2 Within 24 Hours - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Game Preview: Swamp Rabbits vs Ghost Pirates (7:05pm) - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Royals Host Railers in Series Finale on Flyers Affiliation Night - Reading Royals
- Cosgrove's Five Points Push Railers to 7-6 OTW vs. Reading - Worcester Railers HC
- Americans Win Overtime Thriller - Allen Americans
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.
