ESTERO, FL- David Fischer’s goal with just two seconds left in the overtime period lifted the Florida Everblades to a 5-4 victory over the Elmira Jackals Monday night at Germain Arena. The win gives Florida a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
The Everblades were in control of the puck through the entire first period. Their efforts paid off after four minutes when Brandon MacLean grabbed the puck behind the net and sent a backhanded pass to Matt Marquardt in the slot. Marquardt fired off a wrist shot to beat Elmira goalie Timo Pielmeier giving the Blades a 1-0 lead.
Elmira found their rhythm in the second period to the tune of four unanswered goals. The first came when Dustin Gazley skated into the crease only to make a last minute pass to Demkov who simply tapped the puck in to tie the game at one.
A little over a minute later, former NHL player Craig Rivet sent a pass into the slot finding Jordan Pietrus who slammed a wrist shot to beat Blades goaltender Pat Nagle giving the Jackals a 2-1 lead.
Elmira scored its second goal two minutes later, when Jean Bourbeu’s shot on goal was blocked by Nagle, but Rob Bellamy was there to grab the rebound, and put the puck in past an already outstretched Nagle to extend the Jackals lead to 3-1.
Elmira capped off its scoring run when Pietrus intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and caught Florida’s defense off guard. Pietrus skated down the left side boards uncontested and flipped a shot on goal which Nagle would again deflect, but Bourbeau found the rebound at the top of the crease and put it in the net to give the Jackals a 4-1 lead.
Moments later, Pietrus was assessed a double minor for a highstick that hit Brandon MacLean putting the Blades on the power play. Florida converted on the first half of the penalty, when Mathieu Roy tried to get a wraparound shot that was blocked by Pielmeier, only to be put in the net off the rebound by Kevin Quick to pull the Blades within two.
The Blades pulled within one after Sebastian Piche received a pass from McNicoll at the top of the left side circle, and blasted a long ranged wrist shot that was tipped in front for the goal by Leigh Salters putting the score at 4-3.
Florida tied the game at four when Matt Beca fired a wrist shot form the slot that screamed past Pielmeier for the tying goal. The goal capped off a Blades scoring frenzy which featured three goals in two minutes and three seconds.
The Blades peppered Pielmeier with 11 shots in the third, but couldn’t find the back of the net sending the game to overtime. For 19 minutes and 58 seconds the teams battled it out with neither team getting the advantage. But with only 2 seconds left, David Fischer snuck into the left side circle where he would slam a shot high past Pielmeier to give the Everblades the 5-4 overtime victory.
Pat Nagle earns the win stopping 28 of 32 shot while Timo Pielmeier takes the loss allowing 5 goals on 55 shots.
The two teams will meet again in Game Four on Wednesday at Germain Arena. Game time is set for 7:35 p.m. The following is a complete schedule of the best-of-seven series (Florida leads series 2-1).
Comment@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.