Bloodoff play hero for Everblades in OT

ESTERO, FL – Evan Bloodoff’s overtime goal at 1:56 into overtime sealed a 4-3 victory for the Florida Everblades over the Atlanta Gladiators on opening night at Germain Arena Friday evening.

The Everblades started the 2015-16 with a bang, scoring three goals off of ten shots in the first period.

The Everblades grabbed the first lead of the season at 8:09 of the first period with a Brendan O’Donnell goal. O’Donnell, who was able to squeeze the puck under Kent Patterson’s outstretched leg, gets the first goal for the Everblades with the help from Kevin Lynch and Matt Willows.

The Everblades were then able to extend their lead to two with 3:58 in the first period as on the power play as Kevin Montgomery hurled a shot that clipped past a screened Patterson for a power play tally, the first power play goal of the season for the Everblades.

With 1:34 left in the first period the Everblades struck again with a shot in front by Kevin Lynch from a beautiful forehand pass in the slot by the Captain Marquardt to make the score 3-0. Just 17 seconds later, Tyler Murovich and the Gladiators were able to put one past Daniel Altshuller to score their first goal making the score 3-1.

After an exciting first period the Everblades and Gladiators went scoreless in the second taking the 3-1 score into the third period.

The Gladiators came out of the second intermission scoring their second goal of the game with 15:55 remaining in the third period. Brock Higgs scored his first of the season knocking in a rebound off of a Thomas Frazee shot.

Higgs answered right back with another power play goal scoring on a shot in the slot set up by Frazee again tying the game up at three.

The Everblades came out on fire scoring three goals in the first period only to find it dwindle down to a tied game in the third period. The Gladiators forced overtime but Bloodoff got the best of the Gladiators with a 2-on-1 chance in the 3-on-3 overtime. Bloodoff carried the puck to the slot and unleashed a slapshot that ripped past Patterson to take home the victory for the Everblades.

Altshuller earned the win in goal stopping 29 of 32 shots, while Patterson took the loss allowing four goals on 31 shots.

The Everblades and Gladiators are set to play again Saturday Oct. 17 in Germain Arena. Game time is set at 7:00 p.m.