Everblades rebound, top Solar Bears, 3-1
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 at Germain Arena and leaving Florida (43-25) four points behind South Carolina (41-28) in the ECHL’s South Division standings with four games to play. The four-point difference in the standings stems from the Stingrays’ earning points from their 10 overtime or shootout losses compared to just two for the Blades.
The Blades began their season-ending four-game series with the Solar Bears (32-36) Tuesday night in Orlando, winning 3-1. They meet again Thursday night in Orlando before closing out the season at Germain Arena Friday and Saturday.
The Everblades not only need wins, but at least one South Carolina loss in order to be South Division champions.
“We didn’t get the bounces tonight,” Blades coach Greg Poss said after Saturday’s disappointment. “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 only Stejskal near him. The puck bounced off Stejskal and into the net. It is the only goal Stejskal scored in 69 games this season.
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.”
Third-place Atlanta limped into Germain Arena having lost eight of 10 and likely out of the ECHL playoffs. The two wins helped the Gladiators stave off elimination for the time being.
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.
Friday’s 6-4 loss to the Gladiators means the Stingrays put themselves in position to clinch the division by winning out.
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Brendan O’Donnell, Brant Harris and Kevin Lynch each scored a goal to lead the Florida Everblades (44-23-0-2, 90 pts) to a 3-1 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears (32-28-4-5, 73 pts) Tuesday night at the Amway Center. With the victory, the Everblades clinched the inaugural Wawa Sunshine Cup and now lead the season series 16 points to six.The Wawa Sunshine Cup is awarded to the winner of the season series between the Ever-blades and the Solar Bears.
Coming out firing, both the Everblades and Solar Bears looked to take the early lead. However, some missed chances as well as some great saves from both ‘Blades goaltender An-thony Peters and Orlando’s Ryan Massa kept both teams out of the net throughout the course of the first period.
Taking advantage of an extra attacker off of a delayed penalty, Orlando took the lead just 3:17 into the second period. Upping the offensive pressure thanks to the extra man, Brady Vail found Brett Findlay alone with a rink wide feed. Getting the puck at the low circle, Findlay fired a quick shot towards the short side that managed to beat a diving Anthony Peters.
Just a couple of minutes later, the ‘Blades equalized the score thanks to Brendan O’Donnell, who has now scored a goal in his last six straight games. Picking up the puck along the backside dasher, O’Donnell circled over to the right wing circle. Banking the puck off of the pad of Ryan Massa, O’Donnell’s shot found its way across the goal line to tie the game.
Entering the third period tied, both teams looked to find a go-ahead goal. Just past the halfway mark of the final frame, the Everblades were the first to take advantage of their opportunities and take the 2-1 lead. Picking up the puck in the Orlando trapezoid, Brant Harris wrapped around the Solar Bears’ net and fired his shot off of the body of Ryan Massa and into the back of the net.
Though Orlando pulled the goaltender in favor of the extra attacker late in the game, Anthony Peters could not be beaten. Turning the puck over in the ‘Blades zone, Kevin Lynch picked up the puck and hurled it into the empty net to give the Everblades the 3-1 victory.
Anthony Peters was tremendous all game long for the Everblades, earning the win after stopping 21 of the 22-shots he faced. Ryan Massa was also solid in goal for Orlando, but suffers the loss after allowing two goals on 34-shots.