ECHL Florida Everblades

Stingrays battle from behind to burn Blades 4-3

Published on February 6, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - The Florida Everblades (33-10-2) saw their five-game win streak come to an end as the South Carolina Stingrays (23-18-5) used two early third period goals to come back and win 4-3 on Friday night at North Charleston Coliseum.

A fast-paced first period saw South Carolina come out strong and end the period strong scoring twice with an Everblades goal sandwiched in between. The Stingrays didn't wait long to open the scoring when Pierre-Luc O'Brien took a pass at the blue line before skating into the slot and firing a wrist shot that beat Everblades goalie Anton Khudobin low on the stick side just 1:28 into the game.

South Carolina continued to pressure the Everblades at one point opening a 9-2 shot advantage, but the Everblades eventually answered their goal with one of their own midway through the frame. At 11:32 Danick Bouchard tallied his 17th goal of the season after racing in on Stingrays net-minder Jonathan Boutin untouched before dekeing and lifting a back-hand shot over his blocker for a power play goal. Newcomer Bobby Hughes notched an assist on the goal along with Noah Babin.

As the period wound down it looked like the teams would go to the locker room tied at one, but the Stingrays took advantage of a bad turnover in the Florida zone as Michael Dubuc intercepted an outlet pass by Peter Metcalf and raced in on Khudobin before slipping a shot past him with 1:22 remaining in the frame.

In the second period, the Everblades found the back of the net twice while holding South Carolina off the board. For the second time in the game the Everblades used a power play goal to even the score. This time the goal came with Florida on a 5-on-3 power play play as Mathieu Roy deflected Metcalf's shot from the point past Boutin at 7:43. Kevin Baker added the second assist on Roy's 15th goal of the year.

The Everblades took their only lead late in the period when defenseman Ryan McGinnis took advantage of a great passing play, that saw all five Everblades touch the puck, to wrist a shot from the inside of the left circle low on the stick side past Boutin at 16:04. The play developed with Tim Cook feeding a pass ahead to Colin Nicholson from the Everblades end. Nicholson then slipped the puck up the right wing boards to Matt Auffrey, who fired quick pass to Patrick Bordeleau who then made a great touch pass to the blue line when McGinnis skated onto the puck in stride.

The Stingrays big third period began with them on their second power play of the night, during which they would capitalize to tie the game up. Trent Campbell would scored the first of his two goals just 41 seconds into the period after O'Brien's pass from the right post found him at the left post where he tapped the puck past Khudobin.

The eventual game-winner came shortly after at 3:28 when Campbell deflected a shot from Corey that ricocheted off Khudobin and into the air where Campbell batted the puck past Khudobin.

The Stingrays then clamped down defensively holding the Everblades to just seven shots in the final period. The Everblades did get some pressure late in the frame but Boutin made some big saves to keep the puck out the net, then a late penalty against the Everblades with just over two minutes remaining sank any chance of coming back.

On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 2-of-6, while Stingrays closed out the game 1-of-3.

BEWARE OF THE BITE! Action You Can Sink Your Teeth Into! Individual tickets to all Everblades home games are on sale now! Visit the Germain Arena Box Office M-F from 10-6 to purchase tickets, or order online at www.ticketmaster.com. Visit www.floridaeverblades.com and www.germainarena.com or call 239-948-PUCK for more information on group ticket packages, pricing and upcoming Germain Arena events.

The Everblades return to action on Saturday, February 7 when they travel to South Carolina to take on the Stingrays at 7:05 p.m. from the North Charleston Coliseum. The Everblades return home on Wednesday, February 11 when they host the Cincinnati Cyclones at 7:30 p.m. from Germain Arena.

3 Stars:

1 - Trent Campbell- SC

2 - Pierre-Luc O'Brien - SC

3 - Michael Dubuc - SC

Check out the Florida Everblades Statistics

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ECHL Stories from February 6, 2009


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