Seals finish perfect weekend
February 19, 2006 - SPHL (SPHL)
Florida Seals News Release
[JACKSONVILLE, Fla.]- It took 10 games this season, but the rivalry finally showed its true colors Saturday night in Jacksonville. Florida pulled out a come from behind victory 4-3 to finish off a perfect weekend.
In a rivalry that has mostly been one sided the whole season the Seals were in for a tough ride at the Jacksonville Veterans Arena. The play was extremely physical and each shift was hard fought.
Jacksonville delighted their fans first when Pat Doherty scored shorthanded 4:47 into the game. The Seals looked somewhat tired the opening 20-minutes showing the effects of their third road game in three nights.
Florida came out and matched the Barracudas physical play in the second period, often times frustrating the home team with hard hits. Offensively the Seals got on the board when Trevor Hammer came in from the blue line and ripped the puck past goalie Matt Meacham. The Seals forwards, Ryan Rivard, David Deeves and Steve Zoryk worked the puck behind the Jacksonville net allowing the Seals defensemen to creep down and take the perfect Zoryk pass.
Things turned ugly later in the period as Bret Strot cleared Rob Sich from the Jacksonville crease with a cross check to the face, after the whistle. Steve Zoryk protected his rookie teammate pushing Strot to the ice. Strot was called for a major crosscheck while Zoryk as sent to the box for roughing. Things continued to be tough and feisty through the end of the game.
The third period turned into an offensive explosion. The teams combined for five goals delighting the 2,934 in attendance. Florida took their first lead of the game when Hammer put his own rebound to the back of the net 5:35 into the period.
Four minutes later Jacksonville tied it up when George Cantrall scored his first goal in a Barracudas uniform. As the physical play continued the Seals also continued to put pressure on Meacham who was making his pro debut.
Dominick Dawes picked the pocket of Martin Viazanica, pushed the puck to Andrew Katzberg who ripped the shot giving the Seals back the lead. The large Seals contingent really came to life as David Deeves found a streaking Justin Keller into the offensive zone with the Seals shorthanded. Keller calmed the puck down and lit the lamp for the eighteenth time this year.
Ryan Webb gave the Barracudas one last hope as he found a seam in the Seals defense and broke through with his nineteenth goal of the year. Eventually Jacksonville pulled their goaltender in the final minute but were unable to get the puck past Seals net minder Terry Denike.
The win gave the Seals a perfect weekend winning all three games. It was also the third straight night the Seals won by a lone goal, the first time they did it in regulation.
To reserve your playoff tickets with the Seals, call the office at (407) 343-PUCK or go to the Seals website at www.floridaseals.com. Ticket packages start as low as $20 for the most exciting time of year. All home games can be seen live at www.livesportsnetwork.com/sphl.
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SPHL Stories from February 19, 2006
- Seals finish perfect weekend - Florida Seals
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