NORTH CHARLESTON, SC –Brendan O’Donnell scored the game winning goal in the fourth round of the shootout to lead Florida Everblades (39-20-0-2, 80 pts) to a 4-3 victory over the South Carolina Stingrays (36-18-5-3, 80 pts) Friday night at the North Charleston Coliseum. The ‘Blades and Stingrays now sit tied atop the South Division standings.
Taking the early lead, the Stingrays needed only the first 3:50 of the opening period to take a 1-0 lead. Moving towards the Everblades’ net, Kelly Zajac angled his shot across the crease, giving it just enough to beat Everblades goaltender Anthony Peters and trickle across the line into the corner of the net.
The ‘Blades did not trail for long, answering back with a goal of their own just under two minutes later. Moving into the attacking zone, new signing Ralph Cuddemi fired the puck off the side of the Stingrays net. Picking up the puck behind the net, Mike Aviani sent a pass towards Gabriel Desjardins in the slot. Receiving the pass, Desjardins fired a quick shot off the side of South Carolina goaltender Mark Dekanich and into the back of the net.
Wasting no time, South Carolina retook the lead less a minute later off a tremendous solo effort from Stephan Vigier. Getting the puck in the neutral zone, Vigier moved between two ‘Blades defensemen and towards the slot area. Going to the backhand, Vigier moved towards the front of net and backhanded his shot through the five hole of Anthony Peters.
Needing the first half of the second period, the Everblades tied the game back at two thanks to the stick of Maxime St-Cyr. Getting into the attacking zone, St-Cyr got the puck and fired his shot past Mark Dekanich and into the goal.
Continuing to build some momentum, Kevin Montgomery gave the Everblades their first lead of the game midway through the second period. Going 2-on-2 into the Stingrays’ zone, Kevin Montgomery received the puck on the left wing side and blasted a slap shot past Mark Dekanich to give the ‘Blades the 3-2 lead.
However, the Everblades lead would be short lived with South Carolina tying the game under two minutes into the third period. Benefiting from a defensive error, Patrick Gaul found himself all alone in the ‘Blades zone. Moving towards the net, Gaul wristed a quick shot under the left pad of Anthony Peters to give the games its fourth tie of the night.
Though both teams continued to push for a go-ahead goal throughout the third period, some solid goaltending from both Anthony Peters and Mark Dekanich kept the game tied until the end of regulation. With neither team taking victory in regulation, the game headed to a three-on-three five-minute overtime period.
Much like the third period, both teams gave it their all in overtime. Both the ‘Blades and Stingrays had quality scoring chances, only to be continually denied by the goaltending play of both Anthony Peters and Mark Dekanich. Heading to the shootout, the score would be tied 2-2 after three rounds. Entering the fourth round, Brendan O’Donnell scored while Anthony Peters stopped Kelly Zajac to clinch the 4-3 win over the Stingrays.
Anthony Peters had some tremendous saves in goal for the Everblades, earning the win after stopping 26 of the 29-shots he faced while also stopping two of the four shooters he faced in the shootout. Mark Dekanich also provided some stunning saves in goal for the Stingrays but suffers the loss after allowing three goals on 38-shots while also allowing three goals from the four shooters he faced in the shootout.
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