Everblades drop Thunder for seventh straight home win

ESTERO, FLA — A change in opponent didn’t change the good fortune for Florida Everblades goaltender Jeremy Helvig on Wednesday night.

In just their sixth game this season against a foe from outside the South Division, the Everblades (33-9-5-0, 71 points) received a 19-save effort from Helvig, who earned his 13th consecutive win to match the third-longest individual win streak in ECHL history, in a 3-1 triumph over the Adirondack Thunder (25-17-3-2, 55 points) at Hertz Arena.

The Thunder got on the board first at 12:10 of the first period after a neutral zone turnover by the Everblades. James Henry stole the puck in front of Florida’s bench and then started the rush into the offensive zone. From the left-wing wall, Henry flipped the puck to the low slot for John Edwardh, who got in behind Logan Roe and chipped the puck past Helvig.

But the Everblades struck for the final three goals of the night, including the tying tally just 4:25 into the second period. An attempt from behind the net from John McCarron went off the pads of Adirondack goaltender Evan Cormier and tumbled to the side of the crease. Blake Winiecki picked up the loose puck and potted it for the 12th goal of his rookie season.

The Everblades capitalized off another McCarron play behind the net, but this time it was Patrick McCarron who made the play. He curled behind the goal to the near corner and then reversed course to the opposite post for a wraparound shot. After McCarron put the puck off the pads of Cormier, Tommy Thompson dug it out and scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with 10 minutes, 33 seconds gone in the middle period.

Back for his first game since returning from the American Hockey League’s Charlotte Checkers, Steven Lorentz cushioned the Everblades lead to two with 7:41 left in the game. With the Everblades buzzing in the Thunder’s zone, John McCarron sent a pass up to the left point for Brendan Miller, who wound up and fired toward the net. Before the puck could reach the net, Lorentz got the tip of his blade on the puck to redirect it past Cormier. Miller’s assist gave him a point in his Everblades debut.

Lorentz (1 goal -1 assist) and John McCarron (2 assists) both tabbed multiple points in the victory.

Following a day off on Thursday, Florida resumes the three-game set with Adirondack on Friday at 7:30 p.m.