ESTERO, FL – The Florida Everblades continue on their northern seven-game road trip. This stop was for games three and four in frosty Kalamazoo, Michigan. This was the first meeting between the Blades and the Kalamazoo Wings and it proved to be a memorable pairing.
SATURDAY – NOVEMBER 28, 2009 – (KALAMAZOO -7 / FLORIDA-6 (shoot-out))
Game one proved to be full of fire-on-ice. The penalties were many as were the goals scored – a total of twelve tally’s in regulation between the two teams.
The first period the Wings put on a show for their home town crowd, besting the Blades with a score of 4-0 at the end of the first. Florida’s Mike Hotham and Kalamazoo’s Olivier Legault started the ruckus and earned five minutes each for fighting. This spurred the Wings to open with four goals: Bryan Jurynec (9:31), Ben Simon (12:25), Tom Morrow (15:14) and Sal Peralta (17:34). Things were already looking grim for the Blades. Before the end of the first, Hotham had another altercation and Florida switched goalies (Barry Brust replaced Chris Beckford-Tseu).
The Wings continued to pound the Florida net and Andrew Fournier scored a power-play goal at (7:31) to make the score 5-0. Florida then took control and added two of their own by: Harrison Reed (11:50 power-play) and Colin Nicholson (16:21). The Wings wanted no more of that and added one more goal of their own before the end of the second, by Andrew Fournier (19:09), his second power-play tally of the game.
The third period was all Florida. Three goals in a little less than three minutes put them solidly back into the game. Goals by: Kevin Baker (8:51 power-play), Ross Carlson (10:07) and Harrision Reed (11:13) gave them the chance to battle back. The game remained tense with the Wings thinking they had the win, when Ross Carlson had a game changing goal with just two seconds left on the clock (19:58)!
This sent the game to overtime where neither team was able to score. The game went to a shoot-out where both teams had to endure nine rounds. Kalamazoo’s McGurik was the one to finally beat Brust in the net. The Wings won 7-6.
GOAL TENDERS: Win – Ryan Nie (stopped 43 of 49 SOG’s)
Loss – Chris Beckford-Tseu (stopped 14/17) / Barry Brust (stopped 18/21)
POWER PLAY: Florida: 1/3 Kalamazoo : 2/7
SUNDAY – NOVEMBER 29, 2009 – (FLORIDA-5 / KALAMAZOO-2)
The Florida Everblades came out blazing in the second night of their pair of games at Wings Stadium against the Kalamazoo Wings. However, this time they got the job done by winning.
Jacob Micflickier made an immediate impact on tonight’s game as he added four points to his record (1-goal, 3-assists). He opened the scoring for Florida just 2:48 into the game. He was followed by goals from Kevin Baker (6:32) and Ross Carlson (14:42 power-play). The penalties were once again many for this matchup. The fists flew to try and redirect the play when Steve McJannet (FL) and Bryan Jurynec (KA) were sent to the box for five minutes each. The Blades ended the period with a 3-0 lead.
The second period the Blades took four consecutive penalties, allowing Kalamazoo the opportunity to get back into the game. Florida’s penalty kill was alert and active and no Kalamazoo goals were allowed on seven chances. Florida had their own chance on a five-on-three power play and Harrison Reed made them pay at 16:41. The second ended with Florida increasing their lead to 4-0.
Florida continued to dominate the play and Harrison Reed scored his second goal of the night at 3:47. The Blades let the door open a crack and allowed Kalamazoo on the board twice in the final period of the night. Andrew Fournier (5:46) and Tommy Lange (10:03) scored the only goals for the Wings tonight. The game ended with Florida winning 5-2.
GOALTENDERS:Win – Barry Brust(stopped 28 of 30 SOG’s) Loss – Ryan Nie(stopped 27/32)
POWER PLAY: Florida: 2/6; Kalamazoo : 0/11
NOTES: Return – Jacob Micflickier (from AHL – Albany River Rats) Return – Mike Morrison (from AHL – Albany River Rats)
Contact the writer at: sharon.weatherhead@prohockynews.com
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