ECHL Florida Everblades

Three goals in first 10 minutes propels Blades to 4-2 win

January 3, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Florida Everblades (21-8-2) used three goals in the first 10 minutes to record their second straight win over the Charlotte Checkers (16-14-2) in a 4-2 contest on Saturday night at Germain Arena.

The Everblades chased Charlotte's starting goaltender Maxime Daigneault on two goals by Kevin Baker and one by Danick Bouchard. Baker began the assault with his team-leading 25th goal of the year at 5:56 by firing a quick shot from the right circle after taking a nice pass from Mark Lee as the Everblades came into the offensive zone. Ernie Hartlieb collected the second helper on the goal by starting the play out of the Everblades end of the ice.

Baker then staked the Everblades to a 2-0 lead with a power play goal at 8:55. The play began with Ryan Lang feeding the puck to the blue line where Lee was able to step around a stick-less Matthew Ford before letting a shot go from the right circle. Daigneault made the stop, but the rebound went right to Baker at the left post where he swept in the loose puck.

The barrage ended with a delayed penalty coming against Charlotte when Bouchard scooped up the loose puck behind the Checkers net and swung out at the right post where he stuffed it past a moving Daigneault at 9:36. Mathieu Roy collected the lone assist on Bouchard's 12th goal of the year.

Jeff Jakaitis replaced Daigneault in net after Bouchard's goal to stop the bleeding and stem the tide of pressure over the last half of the opening period. The Checker began an offensive onslaught firing a total of 19 shots on goal in the first period and eventually breaking through on the score board at 13:35 when Brad Ralph capitalized on a rebound from Everblades goaltender David Leggio.

The Everblades hung tough and carried the 3-1 lead into the first intermission. In the second period each team traded goals with Florida scoring first and the Checkers again answering. Bouchard re-opened the Everblades' three goal lead at 6:25 after taking a long outlet pass from Noah Babin to race in on a breakaway. Bouchard deked right, then left on Jakaitis before lifting a back-hand shot under the crossbar. Leggio picked up the second assist on the tally.

Charlotte climbed back to within two at 11:28 with a 5-on-3 power play goal. Michel Leveille tallied his fifth goal overall and fourth against the Everblades this season after ripping a one-time shot from the high slot just inside the left goal post.

As they did yesterday, the Everblades penalty killers came up huge over the rest of the second period allowing them to carry a 4-2 into the second intermission. The third period proved to be a tight defensive battle with both teams clamping down. The Checkers finished with a 7-5 shot advantage in the frame, but over most of the period both teams were under five shots.

In the end Leggio stood strong to keep the Checkers from getting any closer as he improved to 10-3-1 by making 35 saves. For Charlotte Daigneault suffered the loss allowing the three first period goals on five shots. Jakaitis finished off the night strong stopping 16 of 17 shots.

The win for the Everblades evened up the season series 3-3 and improved the Everblades record at home 10-5-0.

On the power play, the Everblades finished the night 1-of-6, while Charlotte closed out the game 1-of-9.

Check out the Florida Everblades Statistics



ECHL Stories from January 3, 2009


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