Blades lose for first time 4-2
DULTUH, Ga. Derek Nesbitt scored the game-winning goal and added an assist to lead the Atlanta Gladiators to a 4-2 victory over the Florida Everblades at the Friday night.
Riding high off the excitement of their home opener, the Gladiators (1-1-1) grabbed the first goal of the game. Gerry Nunn hurled a shot from the top of the right wing circle which clipped past Everblades goaltender Anthony Peters who was screened in front. Nunn’s first of the season gave Atlanta the 1-0 edge.
Nearly two minutes later, Florida (3-1) evened the score on the power play. Matt Marquardt drifted a pass across the ice to a wide open Kevin Lynch on the left wing side. Lynch flexed the puck into the open net for tying tally. The goal was Lynch’s team best fourth of the season.
The Gladiators grabbed a second goal at the 13-minute mark of the first. Nathan Condon led a rush into the zone and delivered a pass across the ice to Todd Fiddler on the wing who flipped the puck behind Peters for the goal to give Atlanta the 2-1 lead at the break.
Neither team could score in the second, but early in the third Atlanta added to its lead as Condon set up Derek Nesbitt for his first marker of the season.
The Everblades started to gain momentum halfway through the final stanza, and the hard work paid off. Mark Nemec cruised through the slot and delivered a shot that was stopped by Atlanta netminder Andy Iles. However, the rebound bounced directly to Mike Aviani on the left side of the crease, and Aviani shoved the puck into the net to pull Florida within one at 3-2.
The Everblades received a late power play, and with the goaltender pulled, Florida had a 6-on-4 situation to work with in the final two minutes. The extra man power was not enough, as Atlanta’s Kevin Albers hurled an empty net goal with less one second remaining to secure the 4-2 win for the Gladiators.
Former Everblade Andy Iles earned his first win of the season stopping 21 of 23 shots, while Peters takes the loss allowing three goals on 32 shots faced.
The two teams meet again Saturday night.