DULUTH, GA – John McCarron’s goal at 1:48 into overtime propelled the Florida Everblades to a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Gladiators in Game Four of the South Division Semifinals Friday night at Infinite Energy Arena. Florida wins the best-of-seven series 4-0.
After a scoreless first period, the Everblades thought they broke through around the 11-minute mark of the second period. Sam Warning delivered a cross-crease pass to McCarron who connected with the puck. Atlanta goaltender Sean Bonar made the initial save, but McCarron continued to tap at the rebound and eventually the puck crossed the goalline for an apparent goal. Following the goal, the officiating crew chatted about the play and determined there was incidental contact on the goaltender prior to the puck crossing the line, and the goal was waived off.
Just seconds later, Atlanta turned the tables when Darby Llewellyn floated a pass to just above the crease to Tanner Pond. Pond fielded the puck and wristed a shot past Florida goaltender Martin Ouellette to put Atlanta on top 1-0.
The Gladiators also managed to kill off two more power play opportunities for the Everblades during the remainder of the middle frame to keep the one-goal edge at the second break.
Justin Kea tied the game at one just 3:30 into the third period after he delivered a wrist shot from the left wing circle that clipped past Bonar’s glove and into the corner of the net for the goal.
Just 37 seconds later, Atlanta reclaimed the lead on Joe Gattenby’s shot from the point that pinged off the inside of the post and banked into the Florida net.
However, the Everblades once again fought back to tie the even the game at 9:17 of the third. Spencer Smallman won a battle along the boards and fed the puck to the point to Matt Mackenzie. Mackenzie found Kea open in the high slot and Kea once again snapped a shot past Bonar to tie the game at 2-2.
Both teams exchanged chances in the final minutes, but neither team could find the go-ahead marker to send the game to overtime.
Early in overtime, Smallman rushed into the zone and split two defenders, but was tripped up on his way to the net which put Florida on its eighth power play chance of the night. On the ensuing power play, the Everblades won the draw to Mackenzie at the point, and the Florida blueliner delivered a shot to the net that hit off the body of Florida Sam Warning. However, both Warning and Bonar lost sight of the puck, and it was kicked out to just above the crease. McCarron collected the wandering puck and curled a backhand shot into the net for game-winning tally.
Martin Ouellette earned the win allowing two goals on 18 shots faced. Bonar was stellar, but takes the loss allowing three goals on 41 shots in the contest.
Florida will now face the winner of Orlando and South Carolina’s South Division Semifinal series. Orlando leads that series 3-0. The Everblades will host Games 1 & 2 of the second round at Germain Arena on Friday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, April 28 at 7 p.m.. The series schedule will be announced at a later date.
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