Solar Bears finally solve Blades 5-3
Well, one thing changed for the Florida Everblades as the calendar switched over to 2016. They lost to Orlando.
The Solar Bears defeated Florida 5-3 Friday night at Germain Arena after going 0-4 against the Blades during the 2015 portion of the schedule.
“I think we got exactly what we deserved,” Everblades coach Greg Poss said. “If we’re going to play like we did in the second period, and not pay attention to detail, it’s really hard to win a hockey game. We got what we deserved. We lost the game.”
Florida had won four in a row and seven of eight before Friday. Meanwhile, the Solar Bears snapped a six-game losing streak (0-5-1).
“You can’t go out there and play below average and expect to win a hockey game,” Poss said.
Max Nicastro scored the go-ahead goal for Orlando with 12:44 to play. Nicastro’s power-play tally gave the Solar Bears a 4-3 lead shortly after they had squandered a 3-1 edge.
Eric Faille added an unassisted empty-netter with 47 seconds left.
The Blades came out blasting as the third period began, scoring twice in 3:36 to tie the game.
Gabriel Desjardins drew the Everblades even at 3-3 with 16:24 to play. Desjardins’ unassisted goal went into the net off the back of Orlando goaltender Ryan Massa. It is Desjardins’ fifth goal this season.
Mark Nemec’s power play goal 1:13 into the final period drew the Everblades within 3-2. Kevin Lynch and Justin Agosta had the assists on Nemec’s third goal of the year.
Rylan Schwartz scored twice in the second period for Orlando, his first two goals of the season.
Anthony Peters (10-7) took the loss in goal for the Everblades. He gave up four goals on 26 shots.
“It’s hard to win a hockey game,” Poss said. “It’s really, really hard. It’s harder when you have two, three guys not doing their jobs. When you have half the team playing like we did in the second period, it’s impossible.”
The Blades looked sharp at times, but all too often seemed to show the rust of having played only once since Dec. 19.
Poss didn’t see rust, though. He had another way of putting it – arrogance.
“We played well in the first period,” he said. “There was no reason why we can’t keep playing that way in the second period, but guys get a false sense of security and they take short cuts. You don’t play the game the right way and you end up getting dominated.”
Ryan Martindale got the Blades on the board first, putting in his own rebound with 9:43 left in the opening period. His third goal of the season was assisted by Brent Harris and Logan Roe.
Matt Rupert drew Orlando even at 1-1 with 4:32 to play in the first. He was left alone in front of Peters and fired it home.
“We played very well in the first period, but made a huge mistake on the first (Orlando) goal,” Poss said.
Schwartz put the Solar Bears ahead just 1:09 into the second. Schwartz, who joined Orlando on Dec. 26, scored again four minutes later.
The two teams are competing for the season-long Wawa Sunshine Cup Series, which will go to the season series victor between the ECHL’s two Florida franchises.
Everblades defenseman Justin Agosta, arrested Wednesday on a charge of second-degree arson, posted $50,000 bond Thursday and was in the starting lineup Friday night. He is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 1. Agosta will be allowed to travel with the team on its five-game road trip to Orlando and Greenville, S.C.
The Blades have games at Greenville on Jan. 7-8-9 before returning home Jan. 13 against Brampton.