Preview: Florida Meets Orlando to Open Four-Game Week
Published on February 19, 2020 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, Fla. - The Florida Everblades (35-12-3-2, 75 pts.) start up their fourth and final stretch of four games in five days this season with a Wednesday night home tilt against the Orlando Solar Bears (24-21-5-1, 54 pts.) at Hertz Arena.
VITALS:
Game 53: Everblades vs. Orlando Solar Bears
When: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Hertz Arena
Tickets: Ticketmaster
Watch: ECHL TV
Listen: WJBX (101.5 FM, 104.3 FM, 770 AM)
Social: Twitter | Instagram
Promotion: Hump Day Deals
Last time out
Ken Appleby made a season-high 35 saves, and four different players recorded multiple points to lead the Everblades to a two-game sweep of the Atlanta Gladiators with a 5-2 win on Saturday at Hertz Arena. Though Florida took a 2-0 lead in the game, the Gladiators scored two power-play goals only 17 seconds apart to even the score in the second period. However, Lukas Craggs scored the first of his two goals in the game only 65 seconds after Atlanta tied it to put Florida ahead for good. RECAP
Series At A Glance
Orlando is Florida's most frequent opponent this season, and Wednesday is the ninth of the 14 matchups between the two sides this year. Unlike last season, when both teams posted identical 6-3-2-1 records in the season series, Florida has held a strong edge through the first eight tilts this year, with a 6-1-1 record against the Solar Bears. The 'Blades are 67-25-8 in the 100 all-time matchups against Orlando. Four of this year's matchups have been decided by one goal, continuing a trend that saw the teams play in 10 combined one-goal games between the regular season and postseason a year ago.
Players to Watch
Lukas Craggs (FLA) - Since returning to the Everblades on Feb. 7, Craggs has been a consistent offensive supplier. The rookie forward has points in three straight games (2g, 2a) and has recorded a point in all but one of the six games he has played in after being re-assigned from the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals two weeks ago. The Elmhurst, Illinois, native is coming off his first professional multi-goal game on Saturday.
Johno May (ORL) - Acquired in a trade with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Dec. 13, May has become a key figure in Orlando's offense since joining the team. After posting only six points (4g, 2a) in 14 games with Greenville to start the year, May has averaged nearly a point per game with the Solar Bears, registering 10 goals and 15 assists in 27 contests. Entering Wednesday, he has six points (1g, 5a) in his last three games.
Hot Flashes
Forwards Blake Winiecki and Hunter Garlent carry point streaks of six and four games, respectively, into Wednesday's game. Winiecki's streak is tied for his season-high and is just one game shy of his career-high. Garlent's four-game streak is a career-long. He has notched at least one assist in all four games and has three multi-point outings in the streak.
Offensive Overload
Florida's offense has turned it on during the current eight-game home point streak. The 'Blades have racked up 33 goals over their last eight home games since Jan. 24 and have posted five or more goals five times in that stretch. Prior to the home point streak, Florida had scored five or more goals in a home game six times through its first 18 home tilts. Florida has climbed to fifth in the league in scoring offense, averaging 3.63 goals per game.
On the Offensive
Saturday was the second time this season that Florida has notched multiple power-play goals in the same game. Florida also posted two power-play strikes on Jan. 16 in a 4-2 win against the Indy Fuel. The 'Blades have registered a power-play tally in four of their last six games, converting on 27.8% of their chances on the man advantage in that stretch.
Next Up
Florida continues its four-game week with a Friday night matchup against the Jacksonville Icemen, the first of the Everblades' two games against Jacksonville this week.
ECHL Stories from February 19, 2020
- Albert's Four Assists Engineers IceMen to 5-1 Win over Railers - Jacksonville Icemen
- Sorenson Leads Comeback, But Banged up Wings Fall in Fort Wayne - Kalamazoo Wings
- Royals Dominate Second Period for 6-3 Win at Wheeling - Reading Royals
- Abt Scores Twice, But Nailers Fall Short - Wheeling Nailers
- No Sunshine for Worcester in 5-1 Loss to Jacksonville - Worcester Railers HC
- Kile Scores Twice as Mariners Win Third Straight in Newfoundland - Maine Mariners
- Growlers Tamed by the Mariners 5-2 - Newfoundland Growlers
- Game Preview: Solar Bears at Everblades - Orlando Solar Bears
- Rush Add Milan Ahead of Rematch against Utah - Rapid City Rush
- ECHL Transactions - February 19 - ECHL
- Sosunov Reassigned to Solar Bears - Orlando Solar Bears
- ECHL Announces Fine, Suspension - ECHL
- Wittchow Heads to Hershey - South Carolina Stingrays
- Preview: Florida Meets Orlando to Open Four-Game Week - Florida Everblades
- Game Notes: at Utah - Rapid City Rush
- Knodel Recalled to Lehigh Valley - Reading Royals
- Game Preview: Railers at IceMen, February 19, 2020 - Jacksonville Icemen
- Walleye Weekly - 3 on the Road - Toledo Walleye
- Register to Paint the Ice for Hockey Fights Cancer - Atlanta Gladiators
- Free Beer Fest at Friday, February 21 Game - Reading Royals
- Try Hockey for Free this Saturday at the Wichita Ice Center - Wichita Thunder
- F Pascal Laberge Reassigned to Reading - Reading Royals
- Schedule Gets Busy, Royals Seek Seventh Straight Win - Reading Royals
- Americans Shutout Tulsa 4-0 - Allen Americans
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