Blades slay Rabbits in OT
GREENVILLE, S.C. Mark Nemec scored the game-winning goal at 4:12 of overtime to lift the Florida Everblades over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits 3-2 Friday night, the Blades’ second victory in Greenville in two nights.
The Blades (25-11) conclude their current five-game road swing and three games in three nights in Greenville on Saturday against the Swamp Rabbits (17-19).
The Everblades netted the game’s first goal midway through the opening period. Gabriel Desjardins found Brent Harris alone at the blue line and with Maxime St. Cyr screening Greenville goaltender Allen York, Harris blasted a one-time effort into the net for a 1-0 Everblades lead.
Less than two minutes later, the Swamp Rabbits tied the game on a faceoff in the Blades zone. Andrew Dommett’s pass from the left circle split the Blades defenders and found Michael St. Croix for the tying score.
The Everblades retook the lead late in the second period. Ryan Martindale fired a low wrist shot at the net and through the five hole of York restoring the Blades one-goal lead.
The Swamp Rabbits again tied it up with just over 11 seconds remaining in the middle frame. A superb pass from Vinny Saponari found Darian Dziurzynski on a breakaway beating Blades keeper Anthony Peters one-on-one on the glove side.
The game headed to a five-minute three-on-three overtime period. With less than a minute remaining in overtime, the Blades set up a 2-on-1 break. From the left wing, Evan Bloodoff found Nemec open in the slot. Nemec smoked a shot home for the 3-2 win.
Peters was sensational in goal for the Everblades, stopping 38 of the 40 shots he faced. York, a former Blades’ goaltender, takes the loss allowing three goals on 25 shots.
Nemec has scored two overtime game-winning goals this season.