NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – Corey Cowick, Evan Bloodoff, Ethan Werek and Ryan Martindale all scored as the Florida Everblades (21-9-0-0, 42 pts) defeated the South Carolina Stingrays (15-10-2-1, 33 pts) 4-1 at the North Charleston Coliseum Saturday night. Florida now holds a nine-point lead atop the South Division heading into the holiday break.
The Everblades would once again open the scoring. With less than 30-seconds remaining in the first period, the ‘Blades would win a faceoff in the attacking zone. Picking up a rebound at the left wing circle, Cowick circled around the back of the net. Emerging on the right wing side, Cowick wristed a shot past the screened Stingrays’ goaltender Mark Dekanich to give the Everblades a 1-0 lead.
Though the second period would begin to open up on the offensive end for both the Everblades and the Stingrays, quality saves by both Dekanich and Rasmus Tirronen would keep the middle frame a scoreless one.
Following a similar script as Friday nights’ contest, the Everblades would enter the third period up 1-0. However, unlike the previous night’s game between the two, it would be the Everblades going on the offensive.
Thanks to two quick penalties on the Stingrays, the ‘Blades would go on a 5-on-3 power play. At the 1:58 mark of the period, Werek placed a shot on goal. Initially saved by Dekanich, the rebound would bounce right to the front door where a waiting Bloodoff buried the puck into the back of the net.
Down but not out, the Stingrays would score a power play tally of their own. An initial shot by Brendan Ellis would be saved by Tirronen. The rebound would pop out to the front of the net where it was shuffled to the right wing circle by David Pacan. Waiting for the diving defender to move past, Pacan unleashed a low shot that managed to find its way between the defender and Tirronen and into the net.
The momentum would not last long for the Stingrays. Less than two minutes after the Pacan goal, the Everblades would regain their two goal lead. Streaking into the zone, Werek found Matt Willows on a give and go at the right wing circle. Receiving the puck back in the slot, Werek went top shelf on a fiery wrist shot to put the ‘Blades back up by two.
South Carolina would be unable to answer. Even with the goaltender pulled in favor of the extra attacker late in the game, the Stingrays could not find a way to get the puck past Everblades’ goaltender Tirronen. In the end, it would be the Everblades that would take advantage of the empty net situation as Martindale would bag a late goal to give the ‘Blades a 4-1 win.
Tirronen earned his second win is as many games for the Everblades, stopping 19 of the Stingrays’ 20 shots. Mark Dekanich takes the loss, allowing three goals on the 25 shots he faced.
The Florida Everblades return to the ice Sunday December 27th when they will head to the Amway Center to take on the Orlando Solar Bears in the fourth game of the Wawa Sunshine Cup. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Eastern time.
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