Blades look to extend streak with altered roster
Breeze staff report
The Florida Everblades roster has a new look to it as the ECHL’s South Division-leading team takes on the Wheeling Nailers Wednesday night at Germain Arena when the Blades look to extend their five-game win streak.
Forward Mike Aviani has been loaned to the San Jose Barracuda of the American Hockey League. Taking his place on the roster is forward Carter Sandlak, who was reassigned from the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL.
Aviani, 22, had registered 15 points in his 15 games with the Blades his season. His eight goals ties him for second most in the league.
Wednesday’s game is the first of three in four nights with the Nailers (7-6). The Blades (11-4) round out their current five-game homestand against the Nailers Friday and Saturday nights. before hitting the road again for three games each at Colorado and at Idaho.
The Blades swept the Idaho Steelheads over the weekend, taking a 4-3 overtime decision last Friday and a 3-0 win Saturday.
“It was a really good win,” Everblades coach Greg Poss said Saturday night. “Sixty complete minutes. We played the way we want to play. I thought we did that in the third period (Friday). Tonight we did it for three periods.”
The Blades dominated shots on goal 21-10 over the first two periods, but didn’t get on the scoreboard until Corey Cowick lit the lamp with 12:52 remaining in the second period.
Defenseman Corey Syvret made it 2-0 Blades and Jon DiSalvatore’s unassisted empty-netter with 37 seconds remaining closed out the match.
The Blades have been playing two goalkeepers, Daniel Altshuller and Anthony Peters, on an equal basis. The pair entered Saturday night ranked third and fourth in the ECHL in goals-against average.
“We rotate them, keep them fresh,” said Poss. “We’ve played a lot of games, the most games in the league (15).”
The South Division-leading Ever-blades have a league-high 22 points.
Freelance writer Pete Sisk contributed to this report.