GLENS FALLS, NY – Michael Kirkpatrick scored the only goal of the shootout while Anthony Peters stopped each of the three shooters he faced to lead the Florida Everblades (12-2-1-2, 27 points) to a 5-4 shootout victory over the Adirondack Thunder (10-3-1-3, 24 points) on Saturday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
After a scoreless first period, the Everblades were first to take advantage of their opportunities, opening the game’s scoring just over three-minutes into the middle frame. Rushing towards the net, Brant Harris fired a quick shot off the body of Adirondack goaltender Mason McDonald. Picking up the rebound, Brendan O’Donnell sniped the puck just past the glove of McDonald, giving Florida a 1-0 lead.
Doubling their lead just a few minutes later, the Everblades were the beneficiaries of a bouncing puck that somehow found its way into the net. Picking up the puck just inside the blue line, Eric Scheid faced some serious pressure from the Thunder. With nowhere else to go, Scheid let go a simple turnaround shot from the point. Bouncing across the ice, the puck took a weird deflection off the Thunder goaltender that deflected it into the back of the net.
Just 20 seconds later, the Everblades again added to their lead as they took advantage of a quick developing odd man rush. Earning a two-on-one opportunity, Matt Berry raced in to the attacking zone. Heading towards the net, Berry sent the puck across to an open Matt Hatch. With the goaltender out of position, Hatch simply fired the shot into the open net to put the Everblades up 3-0.
Going a man up due to a roughing penalty on Michael Kirkpatrick, the Thunder used the power play to their advantage as cut the Everblades lead to just two midway through the second period. Fighting for the puck down in the corner, Adirondack forced the puck up high to a waiting Patch Alber. Setting up at the point, Alber blasted a hard shot through traffic that beat screened Everblades’ goaltender Anthony Peters for the goal.
The Thunder cut their deficit to one off a good team effort in the attacking zone. With a delayed penalty upcoming, the Thunder managed to get the puck up high to Greg Wolfe. Firing a hard shot, the puck took a deflection off the stick of Roman Dyukov that sent it just past the glove of a sliding Peters.
Heading into the third period, Adirondack continued to build momentum. Needing just over five-minutes of the period, the Thunder tied the game up at three off a great solo effort from James Henry. Blazing down the left wing side, Henry showed some nifty moves to get open. Getting into the zone, Henry fired a quick shot that managed to beat Peters.
However, that tie would not last long. Less than two-minutes later, the Everblades once again gained a one-goal advantage thanks once again to some lucky bounces in the attacking zone. Driving to the slot, Mike Ferrantino was bumped off the puck. Bouncing off multiple players, the puck finally got free of the scrum. Picking up that loose puck, Scheid immediately fired it at the goal where it beat a screened McDonald.
Again though, Adirondack would not go away without a fight. Unable to clear the zone, Mathieu Brodeur used some well-timed moves to take the puck away. Forcing the turnover, Brodeur headed straight into the slot area where he unleashed a wicked slap shot that fired the puck right past Peters to tie the game up at 4-4.
Despite some chances for both teams late in the period, neither could find a go-ahead goal, sending the game to a five-minute, sudden death overtime period. During overtime, the Everblades had a potential game-winning goal by Kirkpatrick taken away after some discussion between the on-ice officials and the goal judge. With neither team unable to find that game-winner, the game headed to a shootout.
Leading the Everblades in the shootout, Anthony Peters stopped all three of the Thunders’ shooters in the shootout while the former Adirondack Thunder forward Kirkpatrick scored on the Everblades first attempt to earn the Everblades the 5-4 win.
Peters earned the win in goal for the Everblades, stopping 20 of 24-shots while also stopping each of the three shooters he faced during the shootout. McDonald had some bounces go against him as he suffered the loss in goal for Thunder, allowing four goals on 29 shots while also allowing the only goal of the shootout.
Returning to the state of Florida, the Everblades renew their battle for the Wawa Sunshine Cup against the rival Orlando Solar Bears next Friday night at the Amway Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews
You must be logged in to post a comment.