
Keeping It 100: Florida Tops Norfolk to Clinch Eastern Conference
March 29, 2019 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, Fla. - Five different players scored a goal and Jeremy Helvig stopped 29 shots to help the Florida Everblades clinch the Eastern Conference regular season title with a 5-2 win over the Norfolk Admirals on Friday night at Hertz Arena.
In a victory that ensured Florida (47-16-5-1, 100 pts.) home-ice advantage through the Eastern Conference Final in the 2019 Kelly Cup Playoffs, three different players netted their first goal of the season to extend the 'Blades home point streak to six games and secure the second straight win over the Admirals (26-34-5-3, 60 pts).
The 'Blades struck first at 7:29 of the first period with Sam Warning's first goal of the season in his third game back from an injury that sidelined him for the first 66 games. With play at four-on-four, Grant Arnold won the faceoff forward in the Admirals' end and chipped a pass from along the goal line to Warning in the slot. Warning quickly snapped off a wrist shot that beat Norfolk goaltender Jeremy Brodeur five-hole.
Christian Horn scored his second goal in as many games against the 'Blades at 12:12 of the first period to tie the game at one. Horn curled from the left-wing corner to the high slot and fired a shot through a screen that beat Helvig above his blocker.
With a minute to play in the opening frame, the 'Blades wrestled the lead back on Alex Tonge's first career goal. The play started on the stick of Tonge in the Norfolk end, with Tonge throwing a pass to Slater Doggett streaking into the slot. Doggett fired the shot on net, and it rebounded to the stick of Patrick Bajkov just outside the crease. Bajkov zipped the puck off the post and off the backside of Brodeur before Tonge potted the rebound from the crease.
Derek Sheppard scored late in the second period to give the 'Blades a two-goal lead. Intercepting a clearing attempt at the blue line, Sheppard bolted through the circle toward the slot and shifted to a backhanded shot that caught Brodeur off guard to beat his glove hand.
Josh Lammon struck for his first career ECHL goal at the 8:07 mark of the third period to stretch the Everblades' lead to 4-1. Brodeur made the initial save on Patrick McCarron's blast from the high slot, but Lammon found the rebound at the side of the net and shoveled it in.
Norfolk climbed back within two on a goal by Don Olivieri with six minutes, 36 seconds left in the third.
The 'Blades regained their three-goal lead with the final goal of the night at the 17:28 mark of the final period. Blake Winiecki set up Michael Downing for a one-time shot from the top of the left circle, and Philippe Hudon hammered in the rebound from Downing's initial shot to give the 'Blades five goals for the second straight game.
Helvig stopped 25 shots over the final two periods to earn his 25th win of the year. He improved to 7-0-0-1 over his last nine appearances.
Florida wraps up the three-game series with Norfolk with a 7 p.m. matchup on Saturday night.
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ECHL Stories from March 29, 2019
- Steelheads Take Dramatic 4-3 Shootout Win over Rush - Idaho Steelheads
- Keeping It 100: Florida Tops Norfolk to Clinch Eastern Conference - Florida Everblades
- Fuel Edge Wings in Shootout to Win Third Straight on Home Ice - Indy Fuel
- Third Period Vaults Swamp Rabbits to Victory - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Two Points from Somppi Not Enough for Solar Bears - Orlando Solar Bears
- Thunder Knocks off Oilers, 3-1 - Wichita Thunder
- Olivieri's Late Goal Not Enough as Florida Tops Norfolk - Norfolk Admirals
- Fuel Take Goalie Duel in 2-1 Shootout - Kalamazoo Wings
- Thunder Snap Oilers Winning Streak - Tulsa Oilers
- Atlanta Moves into Sole Possession of a Playoff Spot with 6-2 Win in Jacksonville - Atlanta Gladiators
- Brey Bests Beast in 3-2 Thunder Win - Adirondack Thunder
- Royals Drown Mariners to Davy Jones' Locker, 6-2 - Reading Royals
- Mavericks' Losing Streak Hits Seven in 4-1 Loss at Toledo - Kansas City Mavericks
- Nailers Score Five Unanswered Goals to Rally Past Komets - Wheeling Nailers
- Mariners Inch Closer to Playoff Spot But Fall in Reading - Maine Mariners
- Growlers Clinch North Division with Win over the Monarchs - Newfoundland Growlers
- Monarchs Fall to Growlers, 4-2 - Manchester Monarchs
- Florida Adds Goaltender Evan Weninger - Florida Everblades
- ECHL Transactions - March 29 - ECHL
- Game Preview: Solar Bears at Swamp Rabbits - Orlando Solar Bears
- The Anthony Myers Movement Raises $4,757.50 at March 23 Royals Game - Reading Royals
- Indy Receives Reinforcements from Rockford - Indy Fuel
- Labrie Loaned to AHL Bakersfield - Wichita Thunder
- Preview: Everblades Battle Norfolk in Middle Game of Three-Game Set - Florida Everblades
- Americans Face Utah on Martinson Bobble Head Night - Allen Americans
- Nailers vs. Komets Game Day Snap Shot, March 29 - Wheeling Nailers
- Atwal Headed to Rochester - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Game Day: Crucial Central Division Weekend Begins in Indy - Kalamazoo Wings
- Royals Host Maine Friday to Start Huge Home Weekend - Reading Royals
- Swamp Rabbits Edged by IceMen - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Nailers Sign Three Players - Wheeling Nailers
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