DULUTH, Ga – The Florida Everblades came out flying fast and furious across the ice after last night’s overtime loss to the Gwinnett Gladiators at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia.
Steve McJannet decided to make a statement early with his goal at three minutes and 23 seconds of the first period assisted by Doug O’Brien. The Blades added another tally by Mark Lee (his 3rd of the playoffs) at 17:43, with helpers earned on the power play by Jacob Micflikier and Yannick Tifu. Hoping not to have a repeat of last night’s game, Florida confidently went to the break with a strong 2-0 lead.
In the second period the pendulum swung back in favor of Gwinnett. They were not ready to give up the series. Two goals scored mid-period in less than a minute shocked the Blades and tied the game at 2-2. Daniel Sullivan scored a power play goal at eight minutes and 36 seconds of the second, assisted by Scott Marchesi and Tom Zanoski. Fourty-one seconds later, at full strength this time, Gwinnett’s Pat Bateman scored assisted by Phil Youngclaus. At the end of the second, the game was deadlocked at two goals apiece.
The third period swung back again to the Blades, as they peppered Joe Fallon with 15 shots on goal, while limiting Gwinnett to a paltry four shots on goal. Florida’s Ross Carlson was the star of this period, as he scored his second and third goals of the series. Carlson broke out of the tie with a power play goal at the 13:05 mark assisted by Ernie Hartlieb on the game-winning goal. Carlson took advantage of an empty net when Fallon left the net for the extra skater and Carlson scored an insurance goal at 19:58, assisted by O’Brien and Andrew Sweetland.
Florida will attempt to finish the series offon Sunday at home.
Contact the reporter at sharon.weatherhead@prohockeynews.com
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