Estero, FL – As 6,443 fans roared and heaved stuffed animals onto the ice, the Florida Everblades’ offense ignited a four-goal rally en route to a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Eagles Saturday on IBERIABANK Teddy Bear Toss Night.

With just 6:51 gone in the opening frame, rookie sensation Kyle Bonis banged home a Kellan Tochkin rebound for Florida, posting the home side to a 1-0 lead and triggering a deluge of teddy bears that halted the game for over five minutes.

In all, over 6,100 stuffed animals littered the ice as players from both the Everblades and Eagles helped collect the plush toys, which will be donated to children in need across Southwest Florida throughout the next few weeks.

That 1-0 edge would stand through the 4:34 mark of the second, when a turnover made by Colorado goalie Marc Cheverie to Mathieu Roy turned into a tap-in for Matthew Pistilli into a largely empty net to double the advantage to 2-0.

Another turnover by Cheverie led to a 3-0 score in favor of the Blades as Kellan Tochkin intercepted an outlet by the Eagles keeper and fed Rocco Carzo for a shorthanded strike with just 15 seconds left in the middle frame.

Roy capped Florida’s four-goal surge just 43 seconds into the third, stickhandling behind the Colorado defense on a 3-on-2 rush and tucking the puck between Cheverie and the short post to make it a 4-0 game.

Colorado did not falter, however, as Kyle Ostrow lifted a backhander over the blocker of Everblades netminder Trevor Cann to spoil the former Eagle’s shutout bid and put the visitors on the board at 4-1 just 53 seconds after Roy’s score.

Ostrow followed up just 30 seconds later to cut the score to 4-2, tapping in a back-door pass from Jonathan Parker for his third goal in two nights.

Cann slammed the door shut from there, however, stopping the next 14 shots he saw to secure his first win of the season on 28 total saves. Cheverie suffered his first regulation loss of the season on just 16 saves.

The Blades now strike out on a four-game road trip against all three teams in the Atlantic Division, starting Wednesday with a 7:05pm matchup with the Elmira Jackals at First Arena.

Wednesday’s interdivision scrap will be broadcast live online at FloridaEverblades.com and on the Everblades’ app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, with a video webcast available through America ONE, the official broadband and mobile broadcaster of the ECHL, at www.americaonesports.com. Pregame coverage will get under way at 6:50pm.

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 Ugly Christmas Sweater Night on December 20.

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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