ESTERO, Fla. – The Florida Everblades made a clean sweep of the Kalamazoo Wings at Germain Arena in Estero this weekend. Prior to Wednesday night’s game, the K-Wings were undefeated with a record of 3-0-0 ( Florida was 2-3-0). Following Saturday night’s game, the tide turned the other way and Florida’s record is now 5-3-0 and the K-Wings are 3-2-1. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 27 – FLORIDA 3/ KALAMAZOO 2 The game started out quickly, with 23 shots on goal combined in the first period. The Blades failed to convert on a golden opportunity with a five-minute major power-play. At the end of one, the teams were scoreless. The K-Wings opened the scoring in the second period with a goal by Jordan Fulton at 7:34. The score remained with the K-Wings in the lead at the end of two. The third period saw the teams post a combined four goals on the board to make for an exciting game. Florida’s Alexandre Imbeault took control of the ice and put a pair of goals on the board at 1:52 and 3:35, giving the Blades their first lead of the night. Florida’s Goepfert mishandled a puck, allowing the K-Wings to tie the game at 7:42 with a tally by Kory Karlander. Florida earned the game winner at 13:20 by rookie Alex Hutchings, his first professional goal of his career. Florida wins 3-2. Florida ’s Bobby Goepfert gets the win with 29 saves, while Ryan Nie of Kalamazoo posted 25 saves of 28 shots. Florida was one for five on the power play, while the K-Wings were unsuccessful in five attempts. FRIDAY OCTOBER 29 – FLORIDA 6 / KALAMAZOO 2 The K-Wings came out of the gate and quickly took charge of the game. They definitely out-played Florida for about the first ten minutes of the first period. They got on the scoreboard early, with a goal by Sam Ftorek at 3:43. The control then shifted to Florida in the second half. They capitalized on a 5-on-3 opportunity and Florida tied the game at 1-1 with the help of Kyle Lawson (15:07). With a little over one minute left in the first, Florida got their first lead of the night with a power-play goal by Mathieu Roy (18:58). At the end of the first, Florida led 2-1. Kalamazoo fought back early to tie the game at 4:33 with a short-handed goal by Brandon Svendsen. Less than two minutes later the Blades surged ahead, never to relinquish their lead. Matt Beca (6:14) gave Florida a 3-2 lead. Less than two minutes after that, Hutchings scored his second goal of the season, extending the Florida lead 4-2. Mitch Fadden scored late in period at 18:22 giving Florida a commanding 5-2 lead at the end of two. The Blades added the final goal with just 22 second left in the game, making a statement with another short-handed goal. This one was added by Matthew Pistilli, giving Florida a huge 6-2 win over the K-Wings. Everblades goalie Goepfert made 25 saves, while Nie posted 26. Florida scored on two of six power play opportunities, while Kalamazoo missed out on six chances. SATURDAY OCTOBER 30th – FLORIDA 4/KALAMAZOO 3 (SHOOT OUT) Florida came out fast and furious and had a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period. They started the scoring run at 9:48 when Elgin Reid found the back of Nie’s net. The game turned a little wild as the two teams scored three goals in a 56 minute time frame. Florida’s Beca scored at 15:02; Kalamazoo’s Ftorek scored at 15:24; and Florida’s Reid scored his second power play goal of the night at 15:58 of the first. The second period saw the K-Wings back in control for a while. Brandon Svendsen scored at 9:17. That was the extent of the scoring in the second with Florida entering the break leading 3-2. The K-Wings tied the game in the third at 3:12, when Patrick Asselin posted his first goal of the season. With the game tied at 3-3 at the end of regulation, the teams entered into overtime to determine the winner. The five-minute period was scoreless, forcing a shoot out to determine the winner. Florida ’s Imbeault and Francis Lemieux were able to beat Nie in the net, which was enough to give Florida the 4-3 win and a clean sweep of the K-Wings. Jaroslav Janus gets the win in the net for Florida with 40 saves, while Nie had 33 saves. Florida was two for six on the power play, while again, for the third straight night holding Kalamazoo at zero for three chances. Recent changes to the Everblades roster include Defenseman Ethan Graham, reassigned to Florida from the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) and Center Vladimir Nikiforov was traded to the Bakersfield Condors for financial considerations. Contact the writer: sharon.weatherhead@prohockeynews.com
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