ESTERO, FL – Florida’s two-goal second period helped the Everblades defeat the Norfolk Admirals 3-1 Saturday night at Germain Arena. The Everblades (6-0-1-0) remain unbeaten in regulation.
Levko Koper started off the scoring at 3:10 of the opening period as he picked up a centering feed in the slot and batted it into the net past the blocker of Norfolk netminder Connor Knapp.
In the second period, the Everblades added to their lead at the 5:45 mark when John McCarron tipped and redirected a Kevin Raine shot into the net to put the ‘Blades on top 2-0.
Nearly two minutes later, Matt Berry put the score at 3-0. Berry wrangled the puck in the high slot, and then spun around and hurled a shot toward the net that clipped past Knapp for the tally. The Everblades outshot the Admirals 36-14 through the first two periods.
The Admirals came out firing early in the third period and made up for lost shots in the first two periods. Samuel Noreau delivered a shot toward the net which was then tipped into the net by Jaedon Descheneau for the first Norfolk goal of the contest. The goal broke up a consecutive shutout bid by Florida goaltender Anthony Peters. Peters put together a stretch of nearly 117 minutes of shutout hockey during his last three starts dating back to October 22 at Orlando.
Despite the fast third period start by Norfolk, the Everblades buckled down to preserve the 3-1 victory.
Peters earns the win stopping 26 of 27 shots faced, while Knapp takes the loss despite a 39-save performance.
The Everblades will now hit the road for a four-game road trip beginning this Tuesday at Atlanta. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.
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