Everblades roll past Admirals

ESTERO, FL – Steven Lorentz, Joe Cox, Mitchell Heard and Stephen MacAulay all finished with two-point games to lead the Florida Everblades (45-13-2-4, 96 pts) to a 4-1 victory over the Norfolk Admirals Friday night at Germain Arena.

One of the Everblades best chances of the first period came from Lorentz late in the period when he received a cross crease pass down low on the left circle that he looked to put home past the outstretched glove of Jamie Murray on the right side of the net, but Murray committed robbery to keep the puck out of the net.

Florida broke the scoreless tie late with only 28.7 seconds to play when Heard sent a pass from the corner all the way across the slot to find Cox crashing the far side of the net. Cox managed to bang the puck home for his 20th goal of the season before sliding into the boards. With the assist, Heard extended his point streak to 11 games.

Derek Sheppard got on the board for the second time in as many games with a heat-seeking missile he fired from the point while the Everblades were on the power play. With the goal, the Everblades extended their lead to 2-0 just 5:15 into the second period.

The Everblades added to their lead at 12:18 with a goal from Lorentz to give the Everblades a 3-0 lead. Matt Berry circled back behind the net and came out the other side and sent the puck right to the right circle where Lorentz was ready to wrist it past Murray for the goal. Florida took the 3-0 lead into the second intermission.

The Everblades added their fourth of the night just 1:39 into the third period. Heard skated through two Admirals defenders as he entered the zone and skated behind the net. Heard slid a pass behind an out of position Murray in net to catch MacAulay waiting outside the crease for the goal.

Martin Ouellette’s shutout fell victim during a penalty kill in the final minute of regulation. The Admirals were able to sneak one past him late when Sam Ftorek got a puck through the crease that was turned aside by Ouellette, but TJ Moore picked up the rebound on the backside for the tap in.

Aside from breaking the shutout, the goal would not mean much as the horn sounded and the Everblades skated away with a 4-1 victory.

The two teams will meet again on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at Germain Arena.