Blades Fall Despite Shorthanded Barrage

Estero, FL – Though they managed four goals on special teams, including a whopping three shorthanded strikes, the Florida Everblades dropped their first regulation decision of 2013-14 by the score of 6-5 to the visiting Elmira Jackals.

It didn’t take long for the Blades to tally their first shorthanded goal as Carl Nielsen earned his first professional goal by burying a centering feed from Mike Merrifield on the rush to make it 1-0 Florida just 6:25 into the game.

Elmira responded 2:05 later as defender Danny New launched a shot through traffic that beat recently acquired netminder Trevor Cann to tie the game at one.

Just 56 seconds after New’s goal, fellow blueliner Kyle Bushee gave Elmira their first lead of the week against the Everblades at 2-1, tucking a shot between Cann and the short post for his first goal of the year.

The see-saw first frame saw Florida forward Matthew Pistilli even the score at two 74 seconds after Bushee’s marker on a short-handed rush, blasting home a give-and-go with A.J. Jenks for his league-best ninth goal of the year.

Rookie defenseman Maxime Lamarche pushed Elmira back ahead at 3-2 with 7:11 left in the opening frame, launching a looping shot off a faceoff that beat Cann glove side.

Florida dialed up another response on the power play when Jordan Henry deflected a low shot off a defender and in over the glove of Jackals goalie Scott Greenham to knot it up at three.

Before the Blades could escape to the first intermission with a tie score, however, Elmira winger Danny Hobbs blasted a low shot in transition through Cann’s five-hole, giving the Jackals a 4-3 lead with 33 seconds to go in the stanza.

Having given up four goals on 11 shots, Cann was relieved by Jesse Deckert in net after the first.

Red-hot Elmira forward Artem Demkov stretched the Jackals’ lead to 5-3 just 1:13 into the second on the power play, blasting in a Matt Carter rebound before Deckert could recover.

Hobbs made it 6-3 with 3:40 remaining in the second, bouncing a wrap-around off Deckert and in.

Blades captain Mathieu Roy gave Florida life 27 seconds into the third, converting a penalty shot off Greenham and in, giving the Everblades their third shorthanded goal of the night and cutting the score to 6-4.

Pistilli pulled the Blades within one with 13:34 to go, grabbing an entry from Jenks and beating Greenham low to get the crowd of 4,365 rocking.

Greenham stole the show from there, though, fighting off 13 straight shots sent his way—including highlight reel stops on Jenks and Mike Little—to preserve the 6-5 win and snap Elmira’s four-game skid.

Deckert ended up with the loss in net for the Everblades—only his second career regulation defeat—stopping just five of seven shots he faced in relief. Greenham improved to 3-2-0-0 behind 36 saves.

The Blades will now wrap up Military Appreciation Weekend when they host the Toledo Walleye for a 7:00pm tilt at Germain Arena.

Special edition red, white and blue Military Appreciation jerseys will be auctioned off following the contest.

Tickets are now on sale at the Capital Bank Box Office at Germain Arena, Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturdays 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Saturday’s Military Appreciation Weekend finale will be broadcast locally on FOX Sports Radio 1350 AM and worldwide online on America ONE, the official internet television provider for the ECHL, at www.americaonesports.com. Pregame coverage will get under way at 7:15pm.

2013-14 Season Ticket Package Information

Ticket packages for the 2013-14 season are currently on sale—and going fast!  Full season packages begin at $380, while 10 and 20 game packages start as low as $160. Sign-up for a new season ticket package today, and receive a $20 gift card per seat to Outback Steakhouse!

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.

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