ESTERO, Fla. - The Florida Everblades improved to 2-0-0-0 after Saturday’s 4-2 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears (0-1-0-0) at Hertz Arena. Rookie goaltender Devin Cooley started in his first professional game and made 20 saves to earn his first win as a member of the Everblades.
Well That Escalated Quickly: The Everblades wasted no time in finding the scoreboard. After forward Cameron Hebig stole the puck behind Orlando’s net, he fed Blake Winiecki at the left post. Solar Bears goaltender Clint Windsor stopped Winiecki’s initial offering, but Hebig returned to the scene to bury the rebound and give Florida a 1-0 lead only 26 seconds into the game.
Harper Strikes Again: Rookie forward Patrick Harper scored his second professional goal at the 6:27 mark in the first period to put Florida up 2-0. After cleaning up a rebound for his first professional tally on Friday, Harper sniped the top corner against the Solar Bears and Clint Windsor.
2-1 After 1: Orlando got their first score of the night on a tap-in by Ryan Lohin late in the first period (17:59). Nikita Pavlychev and Tad Kozun linked up across the blue line, then Kozun placed a perfect back-door pass to Lohin to make it 2-1.
Big Hit Sparks Offense: Both teams had relatively sleepy starts to the second period until Orlando defenseman Dmitry Semykin delivered a devastating hit to Florida’s Lukas Craggs. The hit riled up both benches and Semykin was awarded a match penalty and a five minute major penalty for contact to the head.
The ensuing five-minute power play did not lack excitement. 43 seconds into penalty time, Michael Huntebrinker tucked in a Blake Winiecki rebound to put Florida up 3-1 (9:50). Less than a minute later, Orlando returned with a shorthanded two-on-one and Alexander Kuqali knocked the puck past a sprawling Devin Cooley to slice the Everblades’ lead to 3-2 (10:44).
4-2 Finish: Forward Joe Pendenza finished off the Solar Bears with an empty net goal for his first score of the season. Florida controlled play for the majority of the game, much in part to seven (1/7) power play opportunities. Forward Cameron Hebig finished the game with a goal and an assist to lead the Blades offensively.
First Action: Saturday against the Solar Bears was rookie goaltender Devin Cooley’s first professional action in net. Cooley stood tall in net for the Blades and stopped 20 of 22 Orlando shots, including a handful of crucial stops while the Bears were on the power play in the first and second periods. Through three years at the University of Denver, Cooley posted a 15-9-4 record. The 6-4 Los Gatos, California native published a wildly impressive 1.72 goals against average and .927 save percentage.
Rookie defenseman Cole MacDonald saw his first action of the season on Saturday night. MacDonald played two games with Florida, but is still designated as a rookie by the ECHL.
Killers: After stopping all four Orlando power plays, the Everblades remain perfect on the penalty kill this season (13/13).
--
BLADES 365 MEMBERSHIPS
Blades 365 Memberships are still on sale for the 2020-21 season. Get great seat locations, big savings and exclusive year-round experiences with a Blades 365 Membership!
Purchase a new Blades 365 Membership for the 2020-21 season and receive a $20 gift card to Ford’s Garage and an Everblades tote bag. To view the Blades 365 Membership savings, benefits and options click HERE.
BLADES BROADCASTS
All Florida Everblades games will be available to watch this season on ECHL.TV, streaming on FloHockey.tv.
Fans can also listen to every Blades game on 101.5 FM (Bonita Springs/Naples), 104.3 FM (Fort Myers) and AM 770. In addition to airing games on radio in Southwest Florida, WJBX can also be streamed online at wjbxnewstalk.com
FOLLOW THE BLADES
Stay up to date with all the latest news, scores and promotions by following the 'Blades on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Tiktok, and Twitter.
The Florida Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Nashville Predators and the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals.
###
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers