Blades trim Bears 3-2
Brendan O’Donnell’s goal at 2:45 into overtime sealed a 3-2 overtime win for the Florida Everblades over the Orlando Solar Bears in the preseason opener at Germain Arena Friday night.
The Everblades grabbed the game’s first goal at 14:58 of the opening frame when Jared Staal knocked in a rebound off a Mike Aviani shot at the top of the crease. Staal fielded the loose puck in front and angled it past Orlando goaltender Bobby Fowler for the goal.
Florida extended its lead to 2-0 at 8:29 of the middle frame when Corey Cowick wristed a shot from the right wing that clipped into the Solar Bears net.
Orlando got things going in the third when Erik Bradford was able to slip the puck past Florida netminder Daniel Altshuller to put the Solar Bears on the board.
The Solar Bears evened things at two just seven minutes later as Adam Reid flipped a shot from the left side of the crease past an outstretched Altshuller. .
Neither team could find the go-ahead marker in the final half of regulation, which sent the game to be decided in the new 3-on-3 overtime format.
Both teams created several odd-man rushes, and eventually the Everblades were able to convert. Brendan O’Donnell (pictured above) raced into the offensive zone and snapped a shot from the right wing circle that ripped past Fowler to the seal the victory for Florida by a 3-2 count.
Daniel Altshuller earned the win in goal stopping 25 of 27 shots, while Fowler took the loss allowing three goals on 36 shots.
The teams will meet again Saturday at Germain Arena in the preseason finale at 7 p.m.