LeBlanc Delivers and Johnson Is Sensational in OT Win Over Bunnies
March 31, 2023 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Stefan Leblanc scored the game-winning goal with just over one minute remaining in overtime to lift the Florida Everblades to a crucial 2-1 overtime win over the first-place Greenville Swamp Rabbits Friday night in Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Cam Johnson registered 33 saves to earn the victory after losing a bid for his third shutout of the season with just over 35 seconds to play in regulation.
Following a scoreless first period, Logan Lambdin drew blood for the Everblades just 2:01 into the second period, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. Florida carried the puck from deep in the defensive end and Andrew Fyten fed Lamdbin for his fourth goal of the season.
Neither team would score until the final minute of regulation, when Greenville's Max Martin knotted the game at 1-1 with just over 35 seconds left to play, spoiling Johnson's bid for the shutout.
In the seven-minute, three-on-three overtime session, the Swamp Rabbits posted a 5-3 edge in shots on goal, but neither team could break the 1-1 deadlock until Leblanc netted the game-winner at the 5:49 mark off a feed from Will Calverley in his Everblades debut.
Greenville nipped Florida in the shooting department 34-31, snapping a string of six consecutive games in which the Everblades posted more shots on goal than the opposition.
In between the pipes, Johnson earned the win and improved to 24-16-4-3 while his counterpart David Hrenak dropped to 20-11-4-1 with 29 saves for Greenville.
The South Division playoff race and seeding remains tight. With eight regular-season games remaining, the Everblades (35-21-4-4) find themselves with 78 points in fourth place in a tight South Division race, but sit just three points out of first place. The top four teams in the division are separated by just three points.
The Everblades have reached the midpoint of the four-game road trip and will head back to Duluth, Georgia, where they played Wednesday night, for the first of back-to-back tilts against the Atlanta Gladiators Saturday at 7:00 p.m. The clubs will also meet for their third game in five days Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
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