GREENVILLE, S.C. – Kevin Lynch scored the game winning goal midway through the third period as the Florida Everblades (24-11-0-0, 48 pts) defeated the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (17-13-5-0, 39 pts) 2-1 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena Thursday night.
The Everblades struck first in the game, taking the lead 17:10 into the opening period. Getting into the attacking zone, Ryan Martindale found Matt Willows at the left wing circle. Willows, moving towards the goal, fired a quick shot through the five hole of Greenville goaltender Mackenzie Skapski. The goal also gave Willows his 34th point of the season, moving him into third place in the League’s scoring race.
Both the Everblades and the Swamp Rabbits would go scoreless in the second period. While both teams would get some good opportunities throughout the middle frame, neither could find a way to beat the stellar goaltending of Anthony Peters and Mackenzie Skapski.
Following the scoreless second period, it would be the Swamp Rabbits that would be first to strike, tying the game at the 3:47 mark of the third period. Skating behind the net, Darian Dziurzynski headed right. Noticing a gap between Everblades’ goaltender Anthony Peters and the net, Dziurzynski whipped a shot, from an almost impossible angle, off of Peters’ left pad and into the back of the net.
Midway through the third period, it would once again be the ‘Blades taking the lead, scoring at the 9:02 mark of the final period. Working the puck towards the Greenville net, an initial wraparound attempt from Evan Bloodoff was stopped by Greenville goaltender Mackenzie Skapski. However, the rebound popped right out to Kevin Lynch in the low slot, who quickly buried the puck in the open net to give the Everblades a 2-1 lead.
Once again trailing in the game, the Swamp Rabbits began to take a more offensive focus. Unable to tie the game, Greenville pulled their goaltender in favor of the extra attacker with just under two minutes remaining in the game. Despite some quality scoring chances late in the game, Anthony Peters denied every Greenville attempt to seal the victory for the ‘Blades.
Anthony Peters earns the win in goal for the Everblades, stopping 21 of the 22 shots he faced. Mackenzie Skapski was excellent in goal for the Swamp Rabbits but takes the loss, allowing two goals on 41 shots.
The Florida Everblades return to the ice Friday night in the second of three straight games at the Ben Secours Wellness Arena against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
With Florida Everblades release
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