SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Florida Everblades got a critical game-tying goal from Nathan Staios early in the third period, but the Savannah Ghost Pirates netted the game-winner with just over five minutes left in the game to hand the Blades a 2-1 setback Friday night at Enmarket Arena.
With the South Division rivals meeting for the sixth time in 24 days, offense was hard to come by in a scoreless, penalty-free opening period. The Everblades had most of the early good looks, jumping out to a quick 7-1 shot advantage, but Savannah tested Florida netminder Cam Johnson in the latter stages of the frame. Johnson stopped everything that the Ghost Pirates fired his way, as the hosts claimed a 12-10 edge in shots over the first 20 minutes.
The scoring drought continued for nearly 14 minutes into the second period, before Savannah’s Keltie Jeri-Leon gave the home team a 1-0 lead that would hold into the second intermission. Florida claimed a 12-11 advantage in shots on goal during the middle stanza. Each side was unsuccessful on its first power-play opportunity of the contest.
In the third, the versatile Staios blasted home the equalizer through traffic from the left circle to pull the Everblades even at 1-1. Staios’ seventh goal of the campaign came at 3:38 off an assist by Will Reilly.
Midway through the final frame, Oliver Chau slipped past the Savannah defense and was hooked from behind at the 9:17 mark, setting up the Blades’ first penalty shot in nearly two years. Chau, unfortunately, came up short as he was denied by Ghost Pirates netminder Jesper Vikman, with the score remaining knotted 1-1.
Savannah’s Nolan Valleau regained the home team’s lead for good, as the Ghost Prates pulled ahead 2-1 at 14:15 of the third.
Savannah outshot Florida 32-30 on the night. In goal, Johnson (12-9-3-1) registered 30 saves and was hard-luck loser for the Everblades. Vikman (2-1-0-0) made 29 stops and picked up the win for Savannah.
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