ESTERO, FL – The Florida Everblades nearly made a clean sweep of their three-game set this weekend. They played division rivals, the Gwinnett Gladiators. After the weekend set the Blades are 7-3-2 against the Gladiators with two more scheduled meetings between them this season.
THURSDAY, March 4th, 2010 FLORIDA: 4 / GWINNETT: 3
The first game of the set was close. Florida had numerous chances to either win or give the game away. Despite frequent turnovers they decided to win. In most past seasons, Gwinnett has been a much stronger team. This season it doesn’t look as if they will make it to the post-season.
The Blades scored first on the power-play with a goal by Matt Duffy at 9:12. The Gladiators tied up the game at 1-1 at 18:04 with a goal by Matt Francis.
Gwinnett took over in the second period with two more goals by: Daniel Sullivan (just 47 seconds into the period) and Mike McLean at 12:17. Gwinnett led 3-1 at the end of the period.
Florida struck back with three consecutive period goals by: Shea Guthrie (just 46 seconds into the third), Mathieu Roy (13:46) and Milan Gajik (just returned from the AHL) at 17:02. Tempers flared and the threat of an early fight on Friday was almost a sure thing. The Blades kept Gwinnett off the scoreboard that period and won the game 4-3.
WIN: Chris Beckford-Tsu LOSS: Danny Taylor
FRIDAY, March 5th, 2010 FLORIDA: 7 / GWINNETT: 5
The anticipated fight that carried over from last night, occurred as planned. Just five seconds into the game the gloves were off between Gwinnett’s Daniel Sullivan and Florida’s Benn Olson. Five minutes into the first gave Gwinnett a four minute power-play. Seventeen seconds into the power-play, Gwinnett scores on their second SOG (shot-on-goal) of the game. At 9:59 the goal judge behind the Gwinnett net lit the light for a Blades goal. The ref called off the goal and then reversed his decision after some debate with the goal judge. The puck did go over the line and the goal was credited to Shea Guthrie. Gwinnett quickly answered back with a short-handed goal at 12:12. Florida tried to give this one away again as they kept passing the pucks over to Gwinnett. One puck slid through the crease and was saved by Chris Beckford-Tsu making a flying leap to stop it. Gwinnett leads 2-1 at the end of one.
Although Gwinnett did dominate the period with puck possession, Florida managed to get ahead. Brady Calla tied the game at 4:54. They struck again after David Brown left in a soft goal. Credited with the tally was Phil Paquet at 8:41. Gwinnett put on the pressure and caught Beckford-Tsu off balance adding a goal at 13:40. The scoring in this period ended with Dominic Osman adding another for Florida at 19:20. Blades now lead 4-3.
Osman picked up his second goal in the third with a power-play at 2:42. Florida turned over the puck and Scott Mifsud took off with it, beating Beckford-Tsu at 7:23. Dominic Osman scored this third goal of the evening at 10:21 to earn his hat trick. Kevin Baker added another to Florida’s list at 16:51. It was a good thing that Florida had such a padded lead. Again they committed a turnover and Gwinnett’s Tom Zanoski took off with the puck, finding the Blades net at 19:19 of the third. Florida wins 7-5.
WIN: Chris Beckford-Tsu LOSS: David Brown
SATURDAY, March 6th, 2010 GWINNETT: 4 / FLORIDA: 3
Tonight was Boston Red Sox Jersey night. Special jerseys designed to resemble baseball jerseys were worn by the Blades. The jerseys were red, white and blue – very different from the Blades colors. The jerseys were auctioned off after the game to benefit the local Children’s Hospital. Why do you ask would the Florida Everblades have anything to do with the BoSox? The Boston Red Sox actually have their Spring Training in Ft. Myers. The number of winter visitors to the area for baseball is huge. (Ft. Myers is also home to the Spring Training for the Minnesota Twins).
I knew the crowd was different tonight when I saw numerous people sporting red Boston Red Sox t-shirts. Another clue was hearing things like, “what is icing?”, “do they take their rest breaks in that box?”, and my personal favorite, “what inning is it?”
The Blades started this game like a team on a mission. They had an early power play opportunity and capitalized on it. Ryan Lang drew first blood at 3:22 on their first SOG. The second SOG by the Blades also found the back of Gwinnett’s net. Colin Nicholson scored at 5:00. Gwinnett had their power-play chance and got on the scoreboard at 5:46. The Gladiators tie the game at 2-2 at 11:15. Gwinnett had another extra-man advantage, but did not score until one second after the penalty ended. Former Blade, Drew Paris, put Gwinnett ahead 3-2 at 13:18 of the first.
Florida started the second with 32 seconds left on the power-play, but did not convert. Not a lot of action this period, just back-and-forth play, no one dominating. Florida did take an unnecessary penalty – too many men on the ice, but Gwinnett also failed to score. The second period ended with Gwinnett still leading 3-2.
The Blades scored early to tie the game at 3-3. Ross Carlson scored at 0:47. The game remained 3-3 until there was only five minutes left. There was some angry discussion on and off the ice. The result was three Blades and one Gladiator in the box. Gwinnett scored with the advantage at 15:32. The dubious penalty calls generated a lot of anger from the Blades bench – perhaps rightly so. Florida ended up losing the game 4-3.
WIN: Danny Taylor LOSS: Chris Beckford-Tsu
BLADE NOTES:
Milan Gajik – returns from Albany River Rats (AHL)Scott Hotham – called up to the Rochester Americans (AHL) Matt Duffy – called up to the Rochester Americans (AHL)
CONTACT THE WRITER: sharon.weatherhead@prohockeynews.com
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