Late charge lifts Blades 5-3
ELMIRA, N.Y. – Alex Lavoie scored the go-ahead goal with just 33 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Florida Everblades to a 5-3 victory over the Elmira Jackals Friday night.
The win extends the Everblades (45-20) unbeaten streak to 13 straight games heading into tonight’s rematch.
The Jackals struck first when Steven Shamanski tapped home a rebound off Joe Houk’s shot netminder Matt Ginn (30 saves).
Three minutes later, the Everblades tied the game seconds after a power play ended. Lavoie’s shot from the right wing circle was redirectedto the net by Steven Whitney.
Neither team could light the lamp in the second period, but the Jackals reclaimed the lead minutes into the third period. Mitch Holmberg blocked a shot at the point in his own end. The puck bounced out to center, allowing Holmberg to take off the other direction for a 2-1 lead.
Matt Marquardt tied the game after carrying the puck from center ice on the right wing side beating the defenseman, lowering his shoulder to angle toward the net, and slipped a shot through the five-hole.
The Jackals grabbed their third lead, 3-2, halfway though the period. After a 2-on-1 attempt was stopped by Ginn, the puck bounced back to Houk at the top of the crease. Houk steered the puck high into the corner of the net.
Florida again countered as Marquardt delivered a shot from the left wing that was stopped. The rebound found Mike Little at the right side of the crease and he shoved the puck into the open net for the tying marker, 3-3.
The game-winner came when Jesse Graham fed a shot from the point toward the net. It was blocked, but the puck bounced to the left, and directly onto the stick of Lavoie giving the Everblades their first lead of the game at 4-3.
Seconds later, Ray Kaunisto added an empty-net tally to secure the 5-3 Florida victory.