ESTERO, Fla. – Logan Lambdin scored the first goal of the game– and more importantly, the last goal of the game – to lift the Florida Everblades to a dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 overtime victory over the Savannah Ghost Pirates Wednesday night at Hertz Arena. The win gave the Everblades a much-needed two points as they moved into third place in the tight ECHL South Division with 11 regular-season games left on the docket. 
The newest division rivals traded first-period goals, playing to a 1-1 deadlock after the opening 20 minutes. Lambdin got the Everblades started quickly, burying his 15th goal of the season from Savannah’s doorstep at 4:48 of the opening frame, with Zach Uens and Sean Josling earning the helpers. Unfortunately for the Blades, Brandon Estes tied the contest for the Ghost Pirates at 1-1 with a strike at the 10:12 mark.
In the second, Florida survived Savannah skating with a 5-on-3 advantage in the period’s opening minutes – almost converting a shorthanded breakaway opportunity during that stretch – but the Ghost Pirates’ Matthew Boudens eventually snapped the 1-1 deadlock at 8:45 into the middle period to give Savannah its first lead of the night, 2-1.
With under three seconds remaining on the clock in the second period, the Blades would get the long-awaited equalizer as Oliver Chau tipped in a blast by Jordan Sambrook from the blue line for his 23rd goal of the year, with Josling also picking up his second helper of the night as Florida knotted the game at 2-2.
Both defenses tightened up during a scoreless third period, as each team mustered just six shots on goal in the final frame, after the Everblades outshot Savannah 23-21 over the first two periods.
Just 2:07 into the overtime session, Lambdin took a feed from the red-hot Will Reilly, broke through the Savannah defense and potted the game-winner with his second goal of the night and 16th of the season to seal the victory.
Blades goaltender Evan Cormier (9-6-3-0) stopped 27 of 29 shots and earned the win, while hard-luck loser Jordan Papirny (5-5-2-0) also made 27 saves for Savannah.
The Everblades and Ghost Pirates continue their three-game series on Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23 at 7:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively. A busy Friday night features a Straw Hat Giveaway courtesy of Lexus, Country Night with music by Honky Tonk Sideshow, as well as our next 239 Friday. For the low price of $39, fans can purchase two tickets, two bourbon and Cokes, and one program.
On Saturday, the full slate of promotional activities continues. Join us for Blackout Night, and in addition, there will be a special tailgate party with live music and bounce houses, as well as specialty Blackout Night jerseys to benefit the Passion Foundation with game-worn jerseys available to be bid on via the Dash Auction App. Visit floridaeverblades.com for more information and to purchase tickets.
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