'Blades Fight Off Gladiators for 4-3 Victory

DULUTH, GA -- Leigh Salters scored twice, and Rob Madore made 38 saves to lift the Florida Everblades to 4-3 victory over the Gwinnett Gladiators at the Arena at Gwinnett Center Saturday night.

The Everblades got on the board first at 3:40 of the opening period. Corey Trivino swung the puck across the slot and found the stick of Leigh Salters.  Salters fired a wrist shot from the right wing circle which beat Gwinnett goaltender Nick Niedert for the goal to give the ‘Blades a 1-0 lead after the first period of play.

Ten seconds into the second period, the Everblades were called for a slashing penalty.  On the ensuing power play, Gwinnett converted with some crisp passing to quickly move the puck around.  The final pass was directed to Casey Pierro-Zabotel who fired a wrist shot from the right wing circle which cleanly beat Florida goaltender Rob Madore to tie the game at one.

Five minutes later, Mathieu Roy grabbed the puck low at the circle and flipped a slow rolling backhand shot toward the net. The puck had eyes, and found a space to slide past the post and the skate of Niedert for the go ahead goal to put the score at 2-1. The goal was Roy’s fifth goal in the last three games, and he extends his point scoring streak to ten games.

Gwinnett netted another equalizer at 15:07 of the second period. After a wild scramble in front of the Everblades net, the puck rolled up to the top of the left wing circle to Nick Walsh. Walsh unleashed a hard slapshot which ripped past Madore to tie the game at two after 40 minutes played,

Seven minutes into the final period of regulation, Florida took its third lead of the game while on the penalty kill. Aaron Bogosian broke into the zone for a shorthanded scoring chance. The goaltender Niedert came all the way to the top of the circle to challenge.  Niedert poked the puck away from Bogosian, but the puck bounced right to the stick of Matthew Pistilli at the point. Pistilli instantly hurled the puck to the unmanned net for the shorthanded goal to give the ‘Blades a 3-2 advantage.

Madore turned aside 16 shots in the third period, keeping the puck out of the net. With thirty-seconds remaining, Salters scored an empty net goal as Gwinnett pulled the goaltender to allow for the extra attacker to lift the score to 4-2.

Gwinnett snuck in another goal by Eric Bloodoff with two seconds remaining, but it would not be enough as the Everblades earned the 4-3 victory.

Once again Rob Madore was sharp, stopping 38 of 41 shots faced in the game, while Niedert takes the loss allowing three goals on 18 shots.

GAME NOTES:  Prior to the game, goaltender Pat Nagle returned to the team from Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League…forward Corey Trivino extended his point scoring streak to five game with an assist in the game…forward Brody Sutter had his three game goal scoring streak snapped in Saturday’s game.

The two teams will meet again for a Sunday matinee beginning at 2:05 p.m.   The game will be broadcast on 96 K-Rock (96.1 FM), or online at www.floridaeverblades.com

The ‘Blades next home game is Tuesday, February 19 against Gwinnett.  Fans can receive two club level tickets for the price of one simply by mentioning “Two for Tuesday” at the Capital Bank Box Office prior to the game.

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 atwww.ticketmaster.com

Group discounts are also available, and can save fans up $8 off per ticket from the normal box office price. For more information on all available packages, call the Everblades office at 239-948-7825.