Grrrowl Drop Playoff Opener to Florida, 4-2

Published on April 4, 2002 under ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Grrrowl News Release


GREENVILLE – The East Coast Hockey League's Southeast Division Champion Greenville Grrrowl lost the first game of their Southern Conference first round playoff series 4-2 at home to the Florida Everblades Thursday. Florida goaltender Sean Matile made 53 saves and Tom Buckley scored two goals in the win.

Buckley opened the scoring 4:11 into the game with his first of the playoffs on assists from Joe Blaznek and Ryan Murphy. The goal came on Florida's first shot of the game.

Buckley made it 2-0 Florida 1:47 into the second period on an assist from Brent McDonald. That goal came on the Everblades' first shot of the second period.

Luke Sellars put the Grrrowl on the board with the first playoff goal of his professional career at 7:59 of the second period on an assist from Sean Venedam cutting the Florida lead to 2-1. The Grrrowl outshot Florida 18-2 in the second period and had twice as many shots in the frame than the Everblades had to that point in the game, nine. They also went 0 for 5 on the power play in the middle period, including a pair of five-on-threes that were part of a 5:04 advantage resulting from three Florida penalties, and were 0 for 7 through the first two periods.

The Grrrowl tied the game at 2-2 6:00 into the third period on Colin Pepperall's first goal of the playoffs on a beautiful, behind-the-back, no-look pass from Martin Masa who had the only assist on the goal, but they again failed to convert a five-on-three power play mid way through the period. Florida took the lead with 2:49 left in regulation on Keith Anderson's first goal of the playoffs, an unassisted tally, and iced the game on an empty-net goal by Blaznek, his first of the post season, as time expired. Briane Thompson assisted on the final goal.

The Grrrowl were 0 for 10 on the power play, 3 for 3 on the penalty kill and outshot Florida 55-21. Game two of the series will be Friday at the BI-LO Center at 7:05 p.m. The series will shift to Florida for game three Sunday at 7 p.m. and, if necessary, game four Monday at 7 p.m. Game five, if necessary, will be next Wednesday April the 10th in Greenville at 7:05 p.m.

Grrrowl games are broadcast on NewsRadio 1330 & 950 WORD-AM and at grrrowl.com.

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