Blades post 4th straight win
ORLANDO – Brenden O’Donnell, Gabriel Desjardins and Alexander Kuqali each scored a goal to lead the Florida Everblades to a 3-2 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears Wednesday night.
The Everblades (43-23) now lead the Wawa Sunshine Cup Series 14-6 over the Solar Bears (31-35).
Taking advantage of an early power play, Orlando struck first, taking the lead just 3:25 into the opening period. Denver Manderson sent a stretch pass across to the right wing circle to T.J. Foster who slipped the puck past the pad of Blades’ goaltender Anthony Peters.
The Blades tied the game on the solo effort of O’Donnell, who deked his way past defenders before stuffing the puck past Orlando goaltender Ryan Massa.
In the second period, the Blades again took advantage of a solo effort for a shorthanded goal. Desjardins intercepted the puck at his own blue line and set off on the shorthanded breakaway. He flipped his shot just over the pad of Massa to put the Blades up 2-1.
Doubling their lead, the Blades began to build momentum thanks to a one-on-one save by Peters. Less than a minute after the save, the Blades went on a 3-on-1 opportunity. Stopping Matt Willows’ initial shot, Massa gave up the rebound. Kevin Lynch got to the puck first and sent it back across the face of goal to Kuqali who buried the puck in the back of the net for his first professional goal.
Trailing by two goals, Orlando threw more and more at the Everblades with every passing second. On a late power play, the Solar Bears cut the lead in half with just over four minutes remaining. Eric Faille blew by the defense and fired a shot off Peters’ glove.
Pulling the goaltender in favor of an extra attacker late in the game, Orlando had some chances to tie, but saves by Peters kept the net clear to seal the win.
Peters earned the win stopping 32 of the 34 shots he faced.
The Blades return to Germain Arena on Friday to take on the Atlanta Gladiators.