Florida Takes Game One 4-3 in Roanoke
April 6, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ROANOKE, VA - The Florida Everblades (1-0-0) defeated the Roanoke Express (0-1-0) 4-3 in front of 1,710 at the Roanoke Civic Center in Game #1 of the Southern Division Semi-Finals on Tuesday night. Florida goaltender Rob Zepp stopped 39 of 42 shots he faced to earn his first professional playoff victory and Tom Buckley picked up the game winning goal and an assist for the Blades. Game #2 will be played on Thursday night at 7:05 PM in Roanoke.
In the first period, the Everblades grabbed an early 1-0 lead when defenseman Tim O'Connell sent a pass ahead to forward Chad LaRose in the neutral zone and LaRose skated in on a breakaway and fired the puck past Roanoke netminder David Belitski at the :58 mark of the period. The Blades then took a 2-0 lead at the 11:02 mark after Keith Anderson set up behind the Roanoke net and sent a pass to defenseman Matt Pagnutti who one timed the puck through the legs of Belitski. Forward Brent McDonald picked up the second assist on Pagnutti's first goal of the playoffs.
In the second period the Express got on the board and made it 2-1 on a goal off the stick of forward Rick Kowalsky at the 9:15 mark. Florida then regained a two goal lead and made it 3-1 when forward John McNabb swatted a Chad LaRose rebound into the net at the 13:19 mark of the second period. Roanoke then got back in the game after they were awarded their third 5 on 3 man advantage. Forward Carl Mallette banked an intended pass off of Blades defenseman Ryan Brindley and into the Florida net to make it 3-2 at the end of two periods.
In the third period the Blades made it 4-2 on the power play after Ryan Brindley found a streaking Tom Buckley on the power play and Buckley snapped the puck into the net. Roanoke cam back late in the game and made it 4-3 on a goal off the stick of
Florida goaltender Rob Zepp (1-0-0) stopped 39 of 42 shots he faced while Roanoke netminder David Belitski (0-1-0) stopped 42 of 46 shots. The Everblades were 1 for 7 on the power play while the Express were 1 for 10.
Florida takes on the Express in Game #2 of the series on Thursday night in Roanoke at 7:05 PM. The Blades return home for Game #3 of the series on Friday, April 9th at 7:30 PM. Blades games can be heard on 770 AM and via the Internet on www.floridaeverblades.com, www.nbc-2.com and www.abc-7.com and inside TECO Arena in 96.5 FM. For single game tickets call Ticketmaster at (239) 334-3309 or group and season tickets please call 239-948-7825. For more information on upcoming TECO Arena events log on to www.tecoarena.com.
3 Stars:
1 - Buckley - FLA
2 - McNabb - FLA
3 - LaRose - FLA
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