'Blades Win Third Straigtht with 4-3 Win Over Toledo

ESTERO, FL – Despite have eight players called up in the past two days, the Florida Everblades clawed their way to a 4-3 victory over the Toledo Walleye at Germain Arena on Saturday night.

Halfway through the first period, Walleye Center Adam Hobson skated high into the slot to receive the puck from teammate Travis Novak. Hobson received the puck and sent the puck flying over the left shoulder of Everblades Goaltender Pat Nagle earning the score.

Three minutes into the second period, Corey Trivino passed the puck to a waiting Brayden Irwin at the top of the slot. Irwin took the shot and sailed the puck past Toledo netminder Jordan Pearce.  With the goal, Irwin extends his goal scoring streak to five straight games.

The two teams struggled to score for the remainder of the period, but with 30 seconds remaining the ‘Blades gained the advantage. After a faceoff win, Maury Edwards fired the puck past the blocker side of Pearce, moving the score to 2-1. The goal was the first for Edwards since joining the Everblades.

Less than two minutes into the third, Trevor Nill picked up an Everblades turnover in the offensive zone. Nill came in on a breakaway chance and wristed puck past Nagle for the goal, tying  the score at two.

Minutes later, Patrick Knowlton tried to secure a goal for his team from the bottom of the right circle, but was blocked by Nagle. Stephon Thorne got control of the puck and slid a the shot behind Nagle’s right glove, bumping the score to 3-2.

The Everblades refused to give up and 13 minutes into the third period Brody Sutter took a shot from the left circle. The puck ricocheted off a Walleye defender and landed in the ‘Blades favor bouncing right to Aaron Bogosian. Bogosian secured the puck and flipped  it high past  a sliding Pearce to even the score at 3-3.

Two minutes later, Matt Marquardt brought the puck into the zone and fired a shot shot form the right wing circle. The puck clipped off the skate of Toledo defender at the top of the crease and banked into the net for the go-ahead goal to put the score at 4-3.

With his team holding the lead, Pat Nagle stopped all remaining shots late in the third to secure the 4-3 victory. Florida takes all three meeting this week over Toledo, and finished the week with six points in the standings.

Nagle earns his third straight victory stopping 33 of 36 shots faced, while Pearce takes the loss allowing four goals on 31 shots.

GAME NOTE: The game featured the return of Ernie Hartlieb and Ryan Brindley.  Hartlieb played in his 346th game as an Everblades, and  finished scoreless with two penalty minutes and four shots on net. Brindley played his first professional hockey game since the 2006-07 season.

The Everblades open up a three games in three days slate on Friday November 18 at Gwinnett. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

Florida’s next home game is Saturday, January 26, 7:00 p.m. against the Greenville Road Warriors. Every Saturday game is Family Night. Receive 4-tickets, 4-hot dogs, 4-sodas for just $56! (Family packages must be purchased at Capital Bank Box Office).

Ticket Information: The Capital Bank Box Office is open Monday thru Friday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Fans may also call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or order online at www.ticketmaster.com

Partial-season packages are still available, and start as low as $150 and offer a flexible option for fans. For more information on all available packages, call the Everblades office at 239-948-7825.