Blades salvage weekend
For the Florida Everblades, their three-game series against the Reading Royals may not have gone the way they hoped, but a dominating 4-0 victory Saturday provided some consolation.
The ECHL win gave the Blades a 4-2 record during their six-game homestand, and salvaged what would have been a thoroughly disappointing stretch. They fell to the Royals 5-3 Wednesday and 5-2 Friday at Germain Arena.
“I think the (team) was sick of the way they were playing,” said coach Malcolm Cameron after Saturday night’s victory. “We played 60 minutes tonight with the same battle effort and mental focus that you need to win in this league.”
It was that lack of focus, which led to undisciplined hockey, a key factor in their two previous losses. That they were able to recover from back-to-back disappointing performances serves as a positive sign for this year’s squad.
“(Saturday night) the guys were determined to give 60 minutes of effort, and 60 minutes of focus, and for the first time this year they did,” said Cameron. “Everybody played well, everybody stuck to the game plan. We needed strong leadership in the locker room reinforcing what we need to do, and we got that tonight.”
“We weren’t playing the way we know we can play,” said defenseman Brad Zanon, “Now we are finally playing the way we know we can play and it feels real good putting in 60 minutes the way we know we can play.”
Zanon and line mate A.J. Thelen’s play proved pivotal in Saturday’s win over Reading. The Royals struggled to get good looks against Blades goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu.
When the tandem was on the ice together they dominated the neutral zone. That led to some frustration and undisciplined hockey from Reading, which resulted in power play opportunities for the Blades (8-7-1).
“That’s just how A.J. and I play,” said Zanon. “We have played together all year, and we know where our partner is back there. We are playing with confidence right now.”
The Blades have a major concern they need to address: penalties.
Over their three games against Reading last week, the Everblades gave the Royals 26 power play opportunities, which was the primary reason for their two losses earlier in the week.
“That’s the only thing that concerns me with the team right now,” said Cameron, “Over those three games we spent a majority of time in the penalty box, and we can’t do that. It’s something we have to correct.”
Cameron and the Blades (8-7-2) don’t have much time to work on their issues. They leave Tuesday and begin a seven-game road trip Wednesday at Wheeling.