Everblades grab 8th straight win
ORLANDO – For the second consecutive game, Adam Brace scored two goals Wednesday night to help lift the Florida Everblades to a 6-4 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears.
The win extends the Everblades (41-19) current winning streak to eight straight.
The Everblades got on the board first at 10:31 of the opening period. Brace led a 2-on-1 rush into the zone on the right wing side. He eyed the trailer on the left wing, but decided to take it himself and wristed the puck past Orlando netminder Maxime Clermont.
Orlando produced a barrage of shots against Florida goaltender Matt Ginn the rest of the period, but Ginn stopped the first 16 shots faced. The 17th slipped off an Everblades defender in front for the tying goal with just 2.4 seconds remaining in the period.
Early in the second, Florida reclaimed the lead. Orlando defenseman Eric Baier lost the puck in the slot in his own end. Alex Lavoie gathered it up and slipped a shot past Clermont to score on the 1-on-1 chance in front.
The Everblades added to their lead at 6:21 of the second off another Orlando turnover. Rob Florentino intercepted the puck at center ice and carried it into the zone where he dropped a pass in the slot to Ray Kaunisto, who snapped it into the net to make it 3-1.
Moments later, Florida captain Jordan Henry made the margin 4-1 as he hurled a shot from the point that beat a screened Clermont.
Orlando’s Jacob Cepis got one back at 15:47 of middle frame.
Just 29 seconds later, the Blades reclaimed a three-goal advantage as Mitch Wahl steered a pass around the defender and perfectly to the stick of Brace, who angled the puck into the net for his second tally.
Wahl sealed the win scoring off a shot by Brace. Ginn earned the win stopping 29 of 33 shots.
The Blades continue their seven-game road trip Friday at Evansville.