Everblades cut down K-Wings

ESTERO, FL – Michael Kirkpatrick finished with a goal and an assist to lead the Florida Everblades to a 5-3 victory over the Kalamazoo Wings in front of a sold out crowd of 7,621 at Germain Arena Saturday night.

The Everblades got out to the quick start they’ve been looking for with two goals in less than two minutes to start the game. Just 46 seconds in, Mike Aviani backhanded a pass from behind the net to feed Mike Ferrantino stationed in front of the net who chipped it by Riopel for the 1-0 lead.

A little over a minute later, Mitchell Heard got a breakaway pass from Matt Hatch before going to his go to move with the forehand backhand roofer on Kalamazoo goalie Nick Riopel to put the Everblades out to a quick two goal lead early.

The K-Wings answered with a goal of their own with 14:14 left in the first on a pass dropped to Brian Hart in the slot by Peter Schneider, Hart fired it on net beating Peters on the blocker side to make it a 2-1 game.

Former Everblade Schneider continued his vengeance tour with five minutes gone by in the second, scoring his sixth goal against the Blades this season with a slick wrister that beat Peters to tie the game at 2-2.

Anthony Peters came up big for the Everblades two minutes later, robbing the K-Wings on a cross crease one timer pass that he smothered, to keep the game tied.

The Everblades found themselves on the man advantage for four minutes with 8:53 left in the second, but were unable to capitalize. However, the K-Wings were able to break a 2-0 rush after a defensive mishap by the Blades, and Taylor Sorenson would come in one-on-one with Peters and pop a backhand shot by Peters for Kalamazoo’s third unanswered goal to put the score at 3-2 going into the second intermission.

The Everblades finally broke the code that had been Riopel who made 41 consecutive saves after surrendering two goals on the first two shots of the game. Florida. Captain Brant Harris shoveled the puck by Riopel to tie the game at three.

The Everblades found themselves on another four minute power play in the third and took advantage. Michael Kirkpatrick gave Florida the lead back off of a cross crease feed from Brendan O’Donnell. The goal have the Everblades a 4-3 lead at 7:58 of the final frame.

The K-Wings pulled their goalie with two minutes left in the period, and as Riopel was headed off to the bench, the Everblades grabbed possession of the puck and broke into the Kalamazoo end. Aviani passed the puck to the crease and was knocked home by O’Donnell for the empty net goal.

O’Donnell’s 39th goal of the season sealed the 5-3 win for Florida. Peters got the win for the Everblades, saving 21 of 24 shots while Riopel took the loss, despite making 51 saves in the contest. Florida outshot the Wings 56-24.

Game Note: Prior to the game, the Everblades welcomed Chris Scodder as their 4-millionth fan in team history.

Florida will now get set for a Wednesday night meeting with the Solar Bears at the Amway Center in Orlando beginning at 7 p.m.