Blades Come up Short at Fort Wayne

Fort Wayne, IN – The Florida Everblades fell behind early in the second period and could not recover, falling 4-2 Saturday to the Fort Wayne Komets at Memorial Coliseum.

Tied 1-1 through the first, the Blades saw Fort Wayne take the lead just 78 seconds into the second as Komet defenseman Jordon Southorn sailed a low point shot past the blocker of Florida goalie Kristers Gudlevskis to boost the home side to a 2-1 lead.

It was the first second-period goal the Blades had allowed since a 5-4 loss to the Gwinnett Gladiators on November 14.

Southorn extended the lead to 3-1 for Fort Wayne with 10:50 left in regulation, again beating Gudlevskis with a low shot for the point that the Latvian netminder couldn’t reach with his glove as he fell backwards.

Florida attempted to battle back late, as Mike Merrifield rang home a Kyle Bonis rebound amid a net-front scramble on the power play, pulling it back to a one-goal game at 3-2 with 3:49 to go in the game.

Fort Wayne would dial up a response, however, with 1:15 remaining in the game, converting a defensive zone turnover by the Everblades into the game’s 4-2 final margin.

In the first, the two sides traded goals as Kyle Bonis’ 10th of the season was answered 59 seconds later by defenseman Joe Hartman, sending the game to a 1-1 deadlock after one.

Gudlevskis made 24 saves but took his fourth loss of the season; Komets keeper Cody Reichard picked up his first victory of the season on 39 stops.

The Blades now return home to open a two-game set with the Colorado Eagles Friday at Germain Arena with a 7:30pm interconference dustup.

Friday’s contest will be broadcast locally on 98.1 FM The Island and worldwide online on America ONE, the official broadband and mobile broadcaster of the ECHL, at www.americaonesports.com. Pregame coverage will get under way at 6:45pm.

Beat the Box Office!

Don’t want to pay the box office rate for Everblades tickets? You don’t have to! Save up to $7.00 per ticket with great 10 and 20-game flex plans and group rates for the remainder of the 2013-14 campaign. Lock in your flex plan or group seats now for the IBERIABANK Teddy Bear Toss on December 7.

For more information call 239-948-7825, or stop by the Everblades main office located at Germain Arena.

Office hours are Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.The Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning.###