Gladiators sweep Blades
It was a lost weekend for the Florida Everblades. Now a division title looks like a long shot.
The Atlanta Gladiators beat the Everblades 2-1 Saturday, sweeping the two-game weekend series and leaving Florida four points out of first place with four games to play.
“We didn’t get the bounces tonight,” Blades coach Greg Poss said. “We just had some bad luck. Hopefully, we get the bounces when it really counts, in the playoffs.”
A puck-handling blunder by Blades goalie Anthony Peters proved to be the difference Saturday.
Former Blade Joe Stejskal got credit for a goal with half a second remaining in the second period when Peters couldn’t clear the puck with no one other than Stejskal anywhere near him. The puck bounced off Stejskal and into the net.
It is the only goal Stejskal, a defenseman, has scored in 69 games this season.
“There was no need to play the puck,” Poss said.
Still, both Poss and general manager Craig Brush spoke in support of Peters after the game.
“He’s our number one goalie,” Poss said. “He’s played great for us all season. I just wish we could have scored a goal there in the third period to help him out, or a couple of goals and get the win anyway. He’s bailed us out of so many games. He’s our number one guy and he played outstanding tonight if you take that one mishap away. That’s all there is to it. He’s a good goalie, and we’ve got one of the best goalies is in the league.”
Brush agreed.
“As Greg said, it was just unfortunate we couldn’t get a couple of goals to tie the game. It was just one of those things,” Brush said. “I’ve been in hockey a long time, and I don’t remember that happening. Maybe in a peewee game or something like that years ago. He’s got real strong character and a lot of confidence. I’m not worried about him at all.”
Atlanta limped into Germain Arena having lost eight of 10 and likely out of the ECHL playoffs. Two wins this weekend helped the Gladiators stave off elimination.
For the Blades, the fourth seed in the ECHL Eastern Conference is looking more and more likely. South Carolina picked up one point Saturday with a a 5-4 overtime loss to Orlando.
Florida finishes the regular season with four games against Orlando – on the road Tuesday and Thursday, then back at Germain Arena Friday and Saturday.
“They actually have a very good team right now,” Brush said of the Solar Bears. “We’ve got to play those games like it’s a playoff series.”
Brush said the Everblades will get some reinforcements. Brant Harris will return from the AHL on Sunday and Kevin Montgomery will return from his AHL stint on Monday. Brush said there might be some other roster additions made.
If the season ended today, Florida would face Adirondack in the first round. That’s far from certain since the fifth through eighth teams in the conference remain tightly bunched.
If the Everblades get through the first round, they likely would then face the Eastern Conference’s top seed, either Toledo or South Carolina.
The Blades pulled Peters for the final 1:18, to no avail. Peters had 26 saves.
Meanwhile, Atlanta goalie Matt Ginn, who began his professional career with Florida last season, was stoning his old team. Ginn, who signed out of college and played briefly for Florida in 2014-15, stopped the first 23 shots he faced Saturday. He finished with 25 saves on 26 shots.
“He’s a good goalie. We saw him last year,” Poss said. “I’d rather have Peters.”
Brendan O’Donnell finally got his team on the board with 7:28 remaining, blasting a shot between Ginn’s legs. Kevin Lynch and Matt Marquardt assisted. The goal gave O’Donnell 12 this year, including tallies in his last five games.
“It was a good turnaround shot, and he had a couple of good looks to tie it,” Poss said.
Atlanta came out with a physical approach, delivering hard hits along the boards behind the Everblades’ goal. It paid off when the Gladiators broke out on top, scoring with 3:17 left in the first period. Brock Higgs was the beneficiary of a scrum behind Peterson, getting the puck for a point-blank shot past the Florida goalie.
“I think they’re having fun playing hockey because the season’s almost over for them,” Poss said. “We’re in the position we’re trying to find our rhythm for the playoffs.”
The Everblades had only four shots on goal during the first period.