EST ERO, FL – The Florida Everblades suffered through a disappointing weekend, adding only two points out of a possible six, to their standings. They visited Greenville and Gwinnett for a three-day road trip.
THURSDAY – October 21st : GREENVILLE: 4 / FLORIDA: 1
Thursday was Greenville’s home opener weekend at the BI-LO Center in South Carolina. The Road Warriors came out ready to play outshooting the Blades 20-5 in the first period. They ended the period on the scoreboard with a goal at 19:23 by Matt Schepke. Greenville led 1-0 at the end of the first.
Even though it was all Greenville in the first, the Blades came out strong in the second scoring at 0:52 by Alexandre Imbeault. The goal was set up from a pass by Mitch Fadden and back-handed in by Imbeault. The game was tied at the end of two.
The game changed at the 4:44 mark of the third when Blades goalie Bobby Goepfert took a slap shot high up on his collar bone and had to leave the game. Goepfert stopped a barrage of 33 of 34 shots on goal. He was replaced by rookie Jaroslav Janus who unfortunately let in the rest of the goals.
Greenville had third period goals by Julian Broulitette (12:25), Brendan Connolly (13:36) and again by Matt Schepke (16:32). Greenville won their home opener 4-1.
Florida: 27 SOG; 0-for-4 on the power play; Loss: Jaroslav Janus (goalie) Greenville: 39 SOG; 0-for-2 on power play; Win: Nic Riopel (goalie)
Friday – October 22nd: FLORIDA: 7/GREENVILLE:6 (OT)
Friday’s game was a wild back-and-forth effort that was highlighted by Florida’s Alexandre Imbeault’s hat trick, his first as an Everblade and the first of the season.
The teams traded goals in the first, but once again Greenville opened the scoring at 9:48 with a goal by Mark Voakes. Florida followed with two quick tally’s at 11:34 by Alexandre Imbeault (his first of the night) and then at 14:58 by Mike Kennedy. Greenville’s Voakes scored again on the power play at 17:50 to tie the game at the end of the first, 1-1.
The second period afforded Voakes the opportunity to earn his hat trick as he was awarded a penalty shot on Florida’s Jaroslav Janus. Unfortunately for him his effort was shut down by Janus.
Greenville poured it on in the second with goals by Brendon Connolly (9:50 – power play), Julian Brouliette (14:58) and (19:15) Andrew Carroll. Florida’s Imbeault scored his second of the night at 13:15 on the power play. At the end of two, Greenville held a healthy lead at 5-3.
Florida battled back furiously and added goals by Mathieu Roy (4:41), Matthew Pistilli (8:13) and Imbeault’s third for his hat trick at 16:28 on the power play. Greenville added one at 12:18 by Marc-Olivier Vallerand. At the end of regulation, the score was a wild 6-6.
The Blades finally overpowered the Road Warriors and took the game in overtime at 4:30 with a goal by Bobby Raymond. Florida wins 7-6 in overtime.
Florida: 33 SOG; 2-for-7 on the power play; Win: Jaroslav Janus (goalie) Greenville: 41 SOG; 2-for-6 on power play; Loss: Nic Riopel (goalie)
Saturday – October 23nd:GWINNETT: 5/FLORIDA: 2
The next stop was in Georgia where the Blades suffered another loss on Saturday evening, this time at The Arena at Gwinnett Center.
The Blades continued to let the opposing team score first, getting an early lead. This time it was just 15 seconds in when Derek Nesbitt got the Gladiators started (0:15). They remained in the lead until Florida’s Alex Imbeault evened the score at 8:32. The teams were tied at 1-1 at the end of one.
The teams traded power play goals in the second. Gwinnet’s Ryan Garbutt posted his power play goal at 9:05. Florida’s Imbeault scored his second goal of the evening at 14:27 to tie the game again. At the break the score was tied 2-2.
The Gladiators jumped out on top by two quick third period goals, just 44 seconds apart. Nesbitt earned his second of the night at 4:07. Shortly thereafter Danick Paquette scored at 4:51. The Blades were shut out in the third period. Gwinnett ended the game with an empty-netter, short-handed, at 18:37 by Tim Miller. Gwinnett wins 5-2.
Florida: 20 SOG; 1-for-3 on the power play; Loss: Jaroslav Janus (goalie) Gwinnett: 34 SOG; 1-for-6 on power play; Win: Chris Carrozzi (goalie)
STATS:
FLORIDA POINT LEADERS: #6 – Alex Imbeault (6 g + 1 a = 7 pts); #9 – Mitch Fadden (1 g + 6 a = 7 pts); #20 – Matthew Pistilli (2 g + 3 a = 5 pts)
GOAL: #12 – Bobby Goepfert (1-1), 2.83 GAA, 0.923
STANDINGS: Florida is in the Eastern Conference, Southern Division. Their record is 2-3-0 = 4 pts. They are currently in second position, but have played more games that the other teams in their division.
Contact the writer at: sharon. weatherhead@prohockeynews.com
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