JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Everblades opened the scoring just over two minutes into the contest, but the Jacksonville Icemen picked up a 5-2 victory Wednesday night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
The teams traded goals in the initial 10 minutes of the contest to set the stage for a busy opening frame. Bobo Carpenter started the scoring to spot the Everblades an early 1-0 lead. Carpenter’s shot from the right circle was the Blades’ third attempt in rapid-fire succession, as the team’s leading goal scorer potted his 17th goal of the year just 2:17 into the contest. Sean Josling and Zach Uens earned the assists.
Jacksonville’s Olivier Nadeau brought the Icemen even just before the period’s midpoint at 9:39, while Chris Grando gave the home team a 2-1 edge at the 18:41 mark. Jacksonville outshot Florida 15-9 in the first stanza.
The Everblades picked up another quick goal to open the second period, striking just 19 seconds after the opening whistle, as Logan Lambdin stuffed home a wrap-around play that leveled the score at 2-2. Oliver Chau and Reise Zmolek assisted on Lambdin’s ninth marker of the season.
Unfortunately, the Icemen would respond with a pair of goals in short order to claim a 4-2 lead. Luke Brown struck at the 4:31 mark, while Garret Cockerill added a tally at 7:29 as Everblades netminder Evan Cormier gave way to Cam Johnson for the remainder of the contest.
A potential goal by Chau with the Everblades enjoying a 5-on-3 advantage with 44seconds to play in the middle frame was waved off, and Jacksonville took the 4-2 advantage into the second intermission.
Craig Martin’s empty-net goal with 61 seconds to play extended Jacksonville’s lead to 5-2.
Jacksonville claimed a 37-28 edge in shots over 60 minutes of hockey. In goal, Cormier (8-5-2-0) stopped 18 of 22 shots before yielding to Johnson, who turned aside all 14 shots he faced. Matt Vernon (14-4-0-0) earned the win and recorded 26 saves for the Icemen.
With the Jacksonville pit stop in the books, the Everblades will head up I-95 head for a pair of games in Savannah on Friday, February 2 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, February 3 at 7:00 p.m. The Blades will return to Hertz Arena for a four-game homestand which will get underway on Wednesday, February 7 with the first of three games against the Adirondack Thunder at 7:30 p.m.
Visit floridaeverblades.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
With Everblades match report
Contact the photographer: Trina.Kirk@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.