Blades can add to lead
The Florida Everblades have a chance to build a little cushion in the ECHL East Division standings Wednesday night when the second-place Elmira Jackals come to Germain Arena to take on the first-place team.
As they stand now, the Everblades (14-4) hold a two-point advantage on the Jackals (12-10), 29-27. Greenville (13-9) lurks in third place with 26 points.
The Blades are starting a five-game homestead against three different teams over the next nine days.
Gabriel Desjardins scored twice last Friday night to help lead the Blades to a wild 7-6 win in Indianapolis. The Everblades closed out their four-game road trip 3-1.
In the first ever meeting between the Blades and the Fuel, it was the Blades who raced to a lead. Just 50 seconds in, Desjardins gathered a loose puck in the slot and lifted a backhand shot that cleared Indy netminder Cody Reichard for the goal
Moments later, the Everblades made it 2-0 when Cameron Burt ripped a shot form the blue line that screamed high past the glove and into the net at the 2:34 mark.
Midway through the first, Alex Lavoie backhanded a rebound into the net to give Florida a 3-1 lead.
Shortly before the close of the second period, Florida grabbed a three-goal edge at 6-3 with Chris Kushneriuk’s shorthanded marker.
Indy pulled within one in the first five minutes of the third with a power play strike and a shorthanded goal.
Mike Aviani flipped a backhand shot across the crease to Jeff Costello who put the puck in the net for the Blades goal.
Daniel Altshuller earned his fifth win of the season (5-1-0-0) stopping 36 of 32 shots.