Everblades hit the road for next two games
The Florida Everblades go on the road for two games this week with a comfortable eight-point lead in the ECHL’s South Division standings. First stop is the Atlanta Gladiators on Friday.
That contest potentially rewards the Everblades (30-13) with a bigger cushion on the team that’s their closest pursuer. The Gladiators (25-20) are in a mist-win predicament if they are to make up ground on the division leaders in the season’s final 29 games. After Friday’s game, the two teams hook up four more times in the final two months, twice in Atlanta and twice at Germain Arena.
The Blades then end their two-game road trip Saturday at division rival South Carolina (22-21), third in the standings 12 points back.
The Blades just wrapped up a six-game homestand with a weekend doubleheader against Greenville. The Blades split the two games with the Swamp Rabbits, losing 2-1 on Saturday after winning 4-2 on Friday at Germain Arena.
The Blades did something Saturday night they hadn’t done in a while and weren’t terribly happy about it. Their nine-game streak without a regulation loss (8-0-0-1) came to an end.
“We hate losing and it’s not a good feeling,” Blades forward Brant Harris said. “It doesn’t get any easier whether it’s a month apart or the next day. We’re not too happy about this one.”
The Blades gave up two second-period goals to the Swamp Rabbits with Anthony Peters back in the net after a night off. He wasn’t at his best, giving up the two goals on just seven shots.
While the Swamp Rabbits weren’t getting a lot of chances (16 all night), several of the ones they had were high-quality opportunities. And, of all things, a bad skate played a role.
“We only gave up 16 shots,” Blades coach Greg Poss said. “It was a bad break when, twice (defenseman Mark) Nemec’s skate was defective and he fell down. So that was a little bit of bad luck. You have nights like that.”
With Rasmus Tirronen back down from the AHL, Poss plans to go back to alternating his goalies. Peters played 11 straight while Tirronen was with Charlotte.
The Blades jumped out in front 3:31 into the game thanks to a 2-on-1 break. Matt Marquardt fed a pass to Jon DiSilvatore, who beat the goalie on the glove side. It was DiSalvatore’s third goal in 13 games with the Blades.
“We have to have a good week of practice now,” Poss said. “We leave Wednesday. Two really tough games in Atlanta and South Carolina. It’s a battle to make the playoffs.”
The Blades game-winning goal on Friday night came from a most unlikely source. Fort Myers native Logan Roe put the Everblades up 3-2 just before the second-period buzzer, beating Greenville goalie Allen York for the second goal of his professional career. Roe’s goal came one second before the intermission.
The Everblades return home Feb. 10 to face Orlando, followed by Elmira on Feb. 12-13.