SAVANNAH, Ga. – Two goals by Oliver Chau, three assists from Will Reilly and a game-winning goal in the third period by Riese Zmolek was the magic formula, as the Florida Everblades won the team’s fourth-straight game, 5-2 over Savannah Ghost Pirates Sunday afternoon at Enmarket Arena. The Everblades’ four-game winning streak matches the team’s longest of the season.
Less than 24 hours removed from an Everblades victory in which the Blades and Ghost Pirates combined for 11 goals on 74 shots on goal, the offense was slow to develop for either team in the early going of the series finale. Savannah, however, broke through first with a power-play goal by Brent Pedersen at 13:18 of what proved suddenly to be a busy first period.
The red-hot Everblades power-play unit responded to tie the game at 1-1 at the 18:06 mark, as Chau capitalized with his 10th goal of the season, thanks to helpers from Reilly and Bobo Carpenter.
Unfortunately, Savannah’s Ross Armour converted on a deflection just one minute later at 19:06 on a delayed penalty to give the Ghost Pirates a 2-1 advantage heading into the second frame.
Much like the opening frame, the second period found scoring hard to come by in the opening stages, but with the teams playing four-on-four hockey, Chau went bar down from the right circle at the 19:04 mark for his second goal of the game and 11th of the year to tie the game at 2-2. Joe Pendenza picked up the primary assist, while Reilly notched his second helper of the contest.
Florida would take its first lead of the contest at 5:11 of the third period, as Brett Davis won a faceoff in the left circle feeding Reilly, who set up a one-timer for Zmolek, whose shot hit the post and went into net for a power-play goal, giving the Everblades a 3-2 advantage. Reilly’s assist was his third of the contest.
Slava Demin’s first professional goal gave the Everblades some insurance, putting the good guys ahead 4-2 at 12:08 of the final frame. Bobo Carpenter’s 16th goal of the year into an empty net closed out the scoring.
Savannah outshot the Everblades 30-18, but the Blades took advantage when on the man advantage, as the visitors beat the Ghost Pirates for three power-play goals for the second straight contest.
In net for the Everblades, Cam Johnson (12-7-3-0) made 28 saves to earn the victory, while Savannah’s Michael McNiven (2-6-2-0) recorded just 13 stops and suffered the loss. Both netminders left the contest following an impressive goalie scrap in the closing seconds.
The Everblades return home to open a three-game homestand on Wednesday, January 24 against the Atlanta Gladiators. The 7:30 p.m. game will feature the always-popular Hump Day Deal, as fans can enjoy $3.00 hot dogs and $3.00 beers, while also being entertained by DJ Matty Chiuch.