4 first-period goals power 5-2 Blades win
DULUTH, Ga. Mike Ferrantino scored twice and added an assist to help lead the Florida Everblades to a 5-2 victory over the Atlanta Gladiators Thursday night.
The Everglades extended their South Division lead to four points on the strength of four goals in the first period.
The Blades (19-9) netted the first goal just 51 seconds into the game. Ferrantino sent the puck to Curt Gogol, who swiftly wristed a shot that beat Atlanta goaltender Kent Patterson.
The Blades needed just over two minutes to take a commanding 2-0 lead. Danny New sent a feed toward the front of goal where Ferrantino snapped a quick shot over the glove of Patterson.
Extending the lead to 3-0 a minute later, the game was firmly in the Blades’ grasp thanks to the hustle play of Brendan O’Donnell. Patterson stopped an initial shot by Michael Kirkpatrick, but the rebound went to the stick of an O’Donnell for the goal.
As the period neared the end, Ferrantino picked up a loose puck and turned it into the net on the power play.
Coming out of the intermission, the Gladiators (12-19) knew they needed to find some momentum. They finally got on the board when Florida goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic was screened on a blast by Trevor Mingoia. They cut it to 4-2 midway through the third period, but Logan Roe took advantage of an empty net to set the Blades’ final margin.
Nedeljkovic earned the win after stopping 30 of the 32 shots he faced.
The Everblades faceoff against the Gladiators Friday night.