BOISE, Idaho – Matt Willows scored twice while Anthony Peters stopped 33 shots to lead the Florida Everblades (16-8-0-0, 32 pts) to a 3-1 victory over the Idaho Steelheads (7-12-4-0, 18 pts) at CenturyLink Arena Saturday night. The Everblades close out the six-game western road trip with a 4-2 mark.
The Everblades quickly opened the scoring, netting their first goal of the night at the 4:44 mark of the opening period. Getting the puck into the attacking zone, Kevin Lynch used a tremendous cross-ice pass to find an open Matt Willows at the right wing circle. A quick wrist shot to the short side of the net would beat Idaho goaltender Maxime Lagace for a 1-0 Everblades lead.
Florida added to their lead late in the first period at the 17:50 mark courtesy of Mark Nemec’s first goal of the season. The Everblades defenseman carried the puck up along the boards in the attacking zone. Dropping the puck back, Ryan Martindale picked it up and placed a wrist shot on goal. Saved initially, Mark Nemec picked up the rebound and lifted the puck top shelf past an outstretched Maxime Lagace.
The Steelheads answered back, needing only the first 39-seconds of the second period to do so. Two Everblades penalties near the end of the first period would see Idaho go up 5-on-3. Closing in on the Everblades net, Brandon Magee received the puck before firing a fiery slap-shot past Anthony Peters to send the Teddy Bears flying onto the ice on Idaho’s annual Teddy Bear toss night.
Some tremendous saves by Anthony Peters kept the score at 2-1 in favor of the Everblades. Peppering Peters with 14 second period shots, Idaho were in full control as the game entered the third period.
However, as each minute ticked by, so did Idaho’s chances of tying the game. Unable to beat Peters, Idaho was forced to pull the goaltender in favor of an extra-attacker. The move would not pay off for the Steelheads as a turnover in the neutral zone would see Corey Cowick finding Matt Willows for the empty net goal at 19:11 of the third period.
Anthony Peters picks up the win in goal for the Everblades, stopping 33 of the 34 shots faced. Maxime Lagace was solid in goal for the Steelheads but takes the loss, allowing two goals on 19 shots.
The Florida Everblades return home to Germain Arena next Wednesday night to begin the first of a three game series against the visiting Reading Royals. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.
With Florida Everblades team release
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