Cann Stops 29 as Blades Blank Rays 1-0

Estero, FL – Trevor Cann needed all 29 saves he would make Friday, making one goal from his offense stand up as the Florida Everblades tipped the South Carolina Stingrays 1-0 Saturday at Germain Arena.

Florida got the only goal of the game with 9:56 to go in the first period as Mike Merrifield found Parker Stanfield alone up the right wing on a 3-on-2 rush and the Californian forward did the rest, ripping a low shot under the blocker of South Carolina netminder Jeff Jakaitis for his first goal as an Everblade.

Neither team would break through for the remainder of the first, and both teams skated to a standstill until late in the second period, when an extended forecheck by the Rays forced Cann to make five saves in the final three minutes of the frame to preserve the 1-0 lead after two.

Cann endured major tests in the third, turning away scoring chances by Luke Greiner, Lindsay Sparks and Patrick Gaul for South Carolina in the final frame.

The biggest stop made by the Blades’ goalie came with 2:10 remaining in the game as Igor Gongalsky came off the bench and nabbed a stretch pass for a breakaway, but Cann lifted his right shoulder and shrugged the puck up and out of play to preserve the one-goal margin.

A strong defensive zone effort by the Everblades kept the Stingrays from getting another shot on Cann after the Gongalsky break and the home side skated away with a 1-0 victory to split the weekend series with South Carolina.

Saturday’s 29-save performance marked the first shutout of the year for Cann, while Jakaitis took the hard-luck loss on 16 stops.

The Blades now continue their four-game home stand Friday at 7:30pm when they face the in-state rival Orlando Solar Bears at Germain Arena.

Tickets are on sale right now at the Capital Bank Box Office, open Monday-Friday, 10:00am until 6:00pm.

Friday’s intrastate throwdown 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 7:15pm.

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 Blades’ next home game on January 17.

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.

###