Everblades double up Solar Bears 4-2
Evan Bloodoff scored twice to help lead the Florida Everblades to 4-2 victory Friday night over the Orlando Solar Bears.
The win gives the Blades (4-2) sole possession of first place in the ECHL’s East Division.
The Everblades grabbed the early advantage at 12:19 of the opening period. The Solar Bears attempted to carry the puck out of their own end, but Florida captain Jordan Henry poked the puck away from the Orlando defender to create the turnover. Forward Alex Lavoie picked up the puck and cruised in toward the net. Lavoie flipped a wrist shot high over the shoulder of goaltender Kent Patterson which then clipped the bottom of the crossbar and into the net for the goal.
Three minutes into the second, the Everblades added to their lead. Artem Sergeev directed a shot from the point which was stopped by Patterson but, the rebound caromed right to Aviani who flipped the puck on the backhand into the net to put the score at 2-0.
Late in the second, Orlando got on the board after an Everblades turnover in front of the net. Jacob Cepis picked up a loose puck and fed a pass across the crease to Tyler Biggs who tapped it past Blades netminder Allen York to pull the Solar Bears within one after 40 minutes of play.
The Everblades reclaimed a two-goal edge on the power play when Bloodoff picked up a rebound off a shot and flipped a backhand shot behind Patterson to put the score at 3-1.
Orlando refused to go away and netted its second goal just three minutes later. After a diving stop by York, the Bears grabbed the puck behind the net and steered a pass to Biggs who easily directed the puck into the net past an outstretched York for the goal.
The Everblades buckled down defensively the rest of the way out and scored an empty net goal by Bloodoff to secure the 4-2 victory.
York earns the win in net stopping 27 of 29 shots. The teams meet again Saturday at Germain Arena.