ESTERO, FL – Brant Harris, Brendan O’Donnell and Matt Berry each finished with three point nights to lift the Florida Everblades to a 6-3 victory over the Kalamazoo Wings at Germain Arena Wednesday night. With the win, the Everblades clinch their second South Division title in the last three years. Florida is now guaranteed to have home ice advantage for at least the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Brendan O’Donnell wasted no time getting the Blades on the board scoring just 1:45 into the first period. Kyle Pereira directed a shot from the left wing that was stopped by Kalamazoo goaltender Joel Martin. The rebound bounced right to O;Donnell who chipped the puck over Martin’s pad during a scramble in front of the net. With his 37th goal of the season O’Donnell reclaimed his league lead in goals, passing David Pacan of the Brampton Beast.
That would be the only goal of the period, despite the three power play chances for the Everblades, with Martin coming up with key saves to keep the game within reach for the K-Wings.
The K-Wings were able to tie it at one with a goal from Kyle Blaney, as he cut down the right side of the ice before wristing the puck along the ice and beating Anthony Peters through his five-hole at 7:32 into the third.
Everblades’ captain Brant Harris answered at 7:49 of the middle frame with a toe drag move past the defender before sniping Martin’s glove side, giving the Blades a 2-1 lead.
John McCarron added to Florida’s lead one minute later, spinning just outside the crease and firing the puck towards the nets. The puck had eyes of its own as it would squeak past Martin to make it a 3-1 game.
The Everblades found the back of the net on the power play thanks to a give-and-go pass down low by Mike Ferrantino to Curt Gogol who was primed for his one timer in the slot, firing it by Martin to make the game 4-1 with 1:21 left in the second period.
With the third period getting underway the Everblades held a daunting 4-1 lead over the K-Wings. Michael Trebish got the K-Wings within two goals as he fired a shot from the point, clinking it off the crossbar and in, to make it a 4-2 game with a little over thirteen minutes left in the third period.
However, Florida wasted little time to respond with a goal coming off the stick of Harris on the one-timed feed from Michael Kirkpatrick, giving Harris three points on the night (2 goals, 1 assist).
Matt Berry continued to pile on the goals for the Everblades with 6:22 left in the game, as he took it around behind the net, spun, and fired one high by Martin on the glove side, extending the lead to 6-2.
The Everblades would take the 6-2 score to the final buzzer, picking up their 43rd win of the season, and clinching the South Division title with the win.
Anthony Peters picked up his 30th win on the season for the Blades, putting away 22 of the 24 shots he faced. Joel Martin took the loss, allowing six goals on 37 shots.
The Everblades and Wings will meet again at Germain Arena Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
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