Florida squanders late lead, falls to Jacksonville in shootout

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ESTERO, FLA – The Florida Everblades (39-18-3-3) lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Jacksonville Icemen (32-27-3-3) on Tuesday night at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Two different Florida rookies, Naples native Zach Solow and Zach Berzolla, scored their first goal with the Everblades.

FIRST STAR: Nick Saracino (JAX) – game-winning shootout score

SECOND STAR: Mike Szmatula (JAX) – one goal, one assist, plus-1

THIRD STAR: Cameron Hebig (FLA) – one goal, two assists, plus-3

Florida got off to a hot start in Jacksonville, scoring just over a minute after puck drop. Cameron Hebig found the top right corner with an assist from Blake Winiecki at the 1:42 mark. Hebig continues his eight game point streak dating back to December 28, 2020.

Jacksonville scored at the end of the 1st period off a deflection from Derek Lodermeier to tie the game at 1-1 at 19:01.

The Everblades broke the tie in the second period with rookie Berzolla’s first career professional goal at 4:52 of the frame. Despite Hildebrand and the Everblades defense killing off two Jacksonville power plays in the second period, the Icemen once again tied the game 2-2 with a goal from Mike Szmatula off a Florida turnover in their own zone at the 13:22 mark.

Naples native Solow gave the Everblades a 3-2 lead with a beautiful goal scored on a two-on-one breakaway. Ara Nazarian would tie the game for Jacksonville at 3-3 with just a minute left in the third period to force overtime.

The game would go to a shootout after no overtime goals. Florida would fall short in the shootout thanks to a score by Nick Saracino and lose their last regular season meeting with Jacksonville.

Florida heads to Orlando to square off against the Solar Bears three times over the weekend. The Everblades and Solar Bears meet first on Friday, May 28th at 7 p.m. at Amway Center in downtown Orlando. The two clubs meet again the next night on Saturday, May 29th at 7 p.m., followed by a 3 p.m. puck drop on Sunday, May 30th.

The next home game for the Everblades comes on Wednesday, June 2nd at 7:30 p.m. against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

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