Everblades clip Wings 4-2
It was all Florida Everblades Wednesday night at Germain Arena as they dispatched the Kalamazoo Wings 4-2 in one of their most dominating performances on home ice this season.
“We had a tremendous first period, and a pretty solid third period, despite giving up two goals,” said Blades coach Malcolm Cameron. “All the games right now we are going to face teams who aren’t going to quit.”
The Blades came out with more energy than the Wings could handle, scoring three times in the first period.
The scoring spree started when Milan Gajic found the back of the net on the power play for his eighth goal of the season, sending a Kevin Baker rebound past Wings goalie Ryan Nie just five minutes into the period.
Forward Ryan Lang notched his 14th goal of the year, again on a power play, to make it 2-0 and the Blades were rolling.
Six minutes later, Matt Duffy sent Nie (15 saves) packing with his fourth goal of the year, all but ending the game with more than 40 minutes of hockey still to play.
“Guys are starting to gel together,” said Kevin Baker, who had three assists. “At the start of the year guys were coming and going from the team a lot, but guys are starting to gel because guys are coming back and staying in the lineup. Our work ethic has been the best it’s been all year.”
Gajic added a second goal in the second period.
“We are finding a way to get points every night,” said Cameron. “In the playoffs, you have to play a complete game, and that’s what we are going to continue to focus on.”
The Wings did try to make it interesting by scoring a pair of goals in the third, the last one shorthanded, but it was too little, too late.
The Blades (27-19-8) and Wings skate two more times this week at Germain Arena on Friday and Saturday nights.