Blades reclaim first place
DULUTH, Ga. – Matt Marquardt and Brant Harris each scored twice to help pace the Florida Everblades to a 7-2 victory over the Gwinnett Gladiators Sunday Afternoon. Florida takes all six points on the weekend road trip, and have now won four straight to reclaim the top spot in the East Division.
It took just 62 seconds for the Everblades to score the game’s first goal. Alex Lavoie centered a pass to Marquardt at the left wing circle. Marquardt directed a one-timer toward the net that beat Gwinnett goaltender Mike Lee for the goal.
Gwinnett tied the game five minutes later on the power play. Greg Carey snapped a shot from the right wing side off the pads of Everblades goaltender Andy Iles. The rebound bounced back to Carey who finished off the second chance opportunity to tie the game at one.
Carey struck again at the halfway point of the first. Gerry Nunn broke into the zone on a 2-on-1 rush. Nunn slid a pass across to Carey who lifted the puck into the net behind Iles to give Gwinnett a 2-1 advantage.
Florida tied the game just two minutes later when Cameron Burt fired a shot from the point that was swept into the net in front by Chris Kushneriuk at the top of the crease.
The Everblades took control of the game in the second, scoring four times in a 3:15 span.
The first of those goals came on the power play when Burt blasted a slapshot high past the glove of Lee to put Florida ahead 3-2.
Moments later, Jordan Henry led a 2-on-1 rush into the zone on the left wing side. Henry pushed a pass across the slot which hit directly off the skate of Adam Brace and into the net behind Lee for the tally.
After a bench minor penalty was handed to Gwinnett, the Everblades went back on the power play, and Marquardt again ripped a one-timer from the circle into the net for his second goal of the game to put the ‘Blades on top by three.
Harris added the fourth Everblades goal of the period on a wrist shot from the right wing circle to give Florida the 6-2 edge after two periods of play. The goal by Harris chased Mike Lee from the game who was replaced by Mark Guggenberger.
Harris captured his second goal of the game at 10:28 of the third period to cap off the 7-2 victory.
Iles earned the win stopping 30 of 32 shots, while Lee takes the loss allowing six goals on 19 shots. Guggenberger allowed one goal on nine shots in a relief effort.
Both Mike Little (three assists) and Cameron Burt (1g, 2a) finished with three-point games.
The Everblades return home to open a three-game home set with the Greenville Road Warriors on Wednesday.