Everblades struggle late in 5-1 loss
It was not the way the Florida Everblades wanted to head into the new year – on a three-game losing streak – but after a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Charlotte Checkers Wednesday night at Germain Arena that is exactly what they got.
“We played unbelievable for 40 minutes,” said coach Malcolm Cameron after Wednesday’s game.
Heading into the third period Wednesday night, Florida seemed to be in control. They were leading Charlotte 1-0 and were dominating all phases of the contest. The only surprise to that point was that Florida had only scored once.
“It could have easily been 3-0,” said Cameron, “(Mark) Lee and (Danick) Bouchard both had their goalie beat, but (Jeff) Jakaitis made some great saves.”
Uncharacteristic of Florida’s recent play, the final period was a complete breakdown. Charlotte scored all five of its goals.
“We beat ourselves tonight,” said Blades defenseman Peter Metcalf, “It just seemed like after they got one the guys just kind of hung their head. We have to understand that with the talent we have on this team it doesn’t matter if they get 1-2-3 on us we can still come back.”
Metcalf added, “How can you play so well for two periods and then lose it in the third?”
Forward Ryan Lang agreed that it was nothing that Charlotte did special, it was more on the Blades.
“We knew that they have a great goalie in net and we knew that when we had our opportunities we had to get the pucks up on him and we didn’t do that,” he concluded.
The 5-1 loss is the second straight against the Checkers. It followed Florida’s most lopsided loss in team history – an 8-0 demolition by the Checkers Sunday night in Charlotte. Charlotte scored five goals in the third period of that contest, too.
Florida will get a chance at revenge against the Checkers Friday and Saturday night at Germain Arena.