‘Blades return home after tough road trip
READING, Pa. – Smarting from four straight losses on the road, the Florida Everblades return home this week having lost the lead in the ECHL’s East Division standings.
The Blades (29-15) trail the now first-place Reading Royals (32-15) by two points in the standings. Stunningly, it was the Royals who handed the Blades three of those road defeats over the weekend.
If it hadn’t been for Evan Bloodoff scoring the tying goal with one-tenth of a second remaining in regulation to force overtime on Sunday, the Blades would looking at a slightly larger deficit in the standings. The Blades collected two points on the road trip with two games decided in overtimes.
The Blades open a nine-game homestand Wednesday night against the Fort Wayne Komets (31-14), who currently lead the North Division standings. When the homestand concludes on March 4 against Cincinnati six different opponents will have visited Germain Arena over a 22-day span.
The Royals sealed Sunday’s 3-2 win in the ninth round of the shootout.
Reading registered the game’s first goal at 3:06 of the first period on the power play. Ryan Cruthers tipped and redirected a shot by Mike Marcou past Blades goalie Andy Iles for the goal. Two minutes later, the Royals scored again, on a shorthanded strike by David Marshall to lead 2-0.
The Everblades got on the board on a power play at 12:07 of the opening frame. Mitch Wahl centered a pass to Bloodoff at the top of the crease and he batted the puck into the net past Martin Ouellette.
The 2-1 score held up until the final second of regulation. Cameron Burt hammered a bouncing puck at the blue line for a last ditch shot attempt. The puck tipped off Bloodoff’s stick and hit the net with one-tenth of a second remaining.
Iles stood on his head in the extra session as Reading received a power play chance and peppered unsuccessful shots on the Florida net.
Andrew Johnston recorded the game-winner in the ninth round, one of just three shooters to score in the shootout.
Iles was stellar down the stretch, but took the loss by allowing two goals on 25 shots.