Everblades break even
After two tough games to open their ECHL Divisional Championship Series, the Florida Everblades feel fortunate to be tied 1-1 with the South Carolina Stingrays.
In game one, they felt they played well, but allowed the Stingrays to capitalize on their mistakes. In game two Saturday night, the Blades came out with more of a chip on their shoulder and used that to establish more of a physical presence.
“(Because of the penalties) I thought we just played an average first period for us (Saturday night),” said coach Malcolm Cameron.
Despite that physicality leading to a penalty-filled first period, the tone the Blades set helped in propelling them to a 4-3 win. They tied the series and head to South Carolina for the next three games.
Cameron saw an obvious difference between the two contests.
“We were a lot more determined in our battles, Friday night we were a lot more spotty and you have to battle for 60 minutes to win a playoff game at all times,” he said.
After a goal by Milan Gajic put Florida up 4-1 midway through the third period, the Everblades began to coast a little bit and let their guard down. It was just the opening the Stingrays were looking for.
With just two and a half minutes left in the contest, South Carolina made it 4-2, then a minute and a half later Pierre Luc O’Brien made it 4-3. Suddenly, the ‘Rays, which the Blades had given up for dead just minutes earlier, had new life.
Florida held on but the message was clear.
“It was a very valuable lesson we learned there at the end,” said Cameron, “Not to take anything away from the win, the guys played their butts off, but it just shows that you can’t let your guard down until the final horn.”
Another lesson the Blades learned this past weekend is that they now know that Stingrays will not go as quietly as the Gwinnett Gladiators did in round one.