GREENVILLE, SC – Matt Harrington, Matt Hatch, Evan Bloodoff, and Dalton Smith each scored a goal to help lead the Florida Everblades (34-10-2-3, 73 points) to a 4-3 win over the rival Greenville Swamp Rabbits (28-19-4-1, 61 points) Sunday afternoon at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Playing on the back foot early on in the first period, the Everblades finally found their footing midway through the opening frame. The Everblades took advantage of an offensive zone faceoff to score the game’s first goal. Stephen MacAuley won a faceoff in the offensive zone and sent the puck towards the top of the circle. Stepping into his shot, newcomer Harrington blasted the puck high past the glove of Greenville goaltender Mackenzie Skapski.
Less than a minute later, the Swamp Rabbits took advantage of a tipped shot out in front to knot the score up at 1-1. Brandon Alderson fired an innocent looking shot towards the goal that Tyler Brown managed to just deflect enough to tip it into the back of the net past Florida’s Anthony Peters.
Just over a minute after tying the game, Greenville took a 2-1 lead off a nice play in front of the Everblades net. Troy Donnay sent a perfect pass to Alderson at the top of the slot. After recognizing that Peters slid across the crease, Alderson quickly sent the puck down to the side of the net where Angelo Miceli buried his chance into the open net.
Later in the period, Everblades took advantage of a power play opportunity to stunt the Swamp Rabbits momentum and tie the game at 2-2. Picking up the puck down in the circle, Matt Berry sent a quick pass across to Hatch at the opposite circle where Hatch buried the puck behind Mackenzie Skapski for the tying goal.
In the second, Greenville eventually managed to take advantage of an Everblades turnover to take a 3-2 lead. Picking up the loose puck, Greenville sent the puck behind the Florida net. Angelo Miceli sent a quick pass to Brandon Alderson who had setup shop at the top of the crease. Collecting the pass, Alderson wasted no time in banging home his point blank chance.
The Everblades tied the game up at 3-3 thanks to a nice breakaway goal from Bloodoff. Catching the Swamp Rabbits in the middle of a line change, Harrington sent the puck down the ice to a waiting Bloodoff for a breakaway chance. Bloodoff sent a quick wrist shot under the pad of Skapski and into the net.
As the third period got underway, both teams knew that the next goal could be a big one in this contest. While the Swamp Rabbits dominated most of the early part of the period, they were unable to beat Anthony Peters who made a couple key saves to keep the game tied at 3-3.
Midway through the third period, that go-ahead goal finally came as Smith made a nice move in front of goal to give the Everblades a 4-3 lead. The play all started when Evan Bloodoff was able to win a foot race to a loose puck before saucering it towards the front of Greenville’s goal. Smith caught the pass on his forehand and then deked to the backhand before rifling his shot high into the net.
Throwing everything they could at the Everblades for the remainder of the contest, Greenville was consistently denied by Anthony Peters. Even with the extra attacker for the final minute, the Swamp Rabbits could not find a way to beat Peters. With the clock hitting all zeros, the Florida Everblades sealed their 4-3 win.
Earning the win in goal for the Everblades, Anthony Peters is now tied for third all-time in wins in Everblades history. Peters earned the win after stopping 32 of the 35 shots he faced. Mackenzie Skapski also made some great saves throughout the contest but suffers the loss after allowing four goals on 32 shots.
Now heading north, the Florida Everblades will begin a set of four games in five days this Wednesday night at the Norfolk Scope where they will take on the division rival Norfolk Admirals. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Eastern time.
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