Everblades’ 9-game win streak over
It was not the return that the Florida Everblades had hoped for Friday night as their inconsistent home ice play continued. It allowed the Gwinnett Gladiators to end the Everblades’ nine-game winning streak with a 3-1 win at Germain Arena.
It is just the second time this season the Gladiators have gotten the best of the Everblades.
“It was a disappointing effort, no question,” said Blades coach Malcolm Cameron. “I just don’t understand why we are not hungrier here at home, especially coming off the successful road trip.”
From the opening puck drop it looked as if Cameron’s greatest fear since returning from the road trip would come true – the Everblades would come out stale.
Both teams seemed to skate without much determination in the first period, ending in a scoreless tie.
It wasn’t until the end of the second period that Florida’s staleness led to the Gladiators’ first goal. Travis Fuller beat Everblades goaltender Anton Khudobin (24 saves) with just under two minutes left in the period.
Florida (28-9-2) fought its way back in the third period.
Just 7:50 into the final period All-Star Kevin Baker fired home his team-leading 31st goal of the season off a pass from linemate Ross Carlson. It would be all the offense the Blades could muster.
“We didn’t battle for lose pucks like we normally do. I don’t think we were sharp with the puck either,” said Cameron. “It was like we were waiting to see the whites of the goalie’s eyes before we would take a shot at him.”
Florida’s inconsistent play at home (12-5) is a sharp contrast to its road record (16-3-2) and it’s something the team knows they have to work on.
“I don’t know what it is,” said team veteran Earnie Hartlieb. “It seems like every time we have a break and we play at home we just have a lapse and we have to stop doing that. We need to learn to play that greasy style of hockey at home like we play on the road.”
The Blades and Gladiators (17-17-4) skate for the ninth time this season Saturday night at Germain Arena.