Gameday Magazine: Komets vs. Everblades, February 22, 2014

Who: Fort Wayne Komets (24-16-6-5, 59 pts, 3rd North Division) vs. Florida Everblades (27-17-2-4, 60 pts, 3rd South Division)Where: Germain ArenaWhen: 7:00pmSeason Series: Everblades lead 2-1-0-1All-Time Series: Everblades lead 4-1-1Radio: 98.1 FM The Island and FloridaEverblades.com, 6:45pm pre-gameInternet Radio: http://www.swfllocalnews.comSmart Phone: TuneIn Radio (iOS & Android)Internet Television: http://www.americaonesports.com

Estero, FL – With each team having claimed one of the first two contests in their three-game set, the Florida Everblades and Fort Wayne Komets will clash for series superiority in Saturday’s rubber match, scheduled for 7:00pm at Germain Arena.

Fort Wayne evened the series with a 4-3 shootout win Friday, overcoming two shorthanded goals by the Blades in the third period to claim the tilt after regulation. Those shorthanded strikes by Philip-Michael Devos and Brandon MacLean gave the Everblades an ECHL-best total of 12.

The Blades will look to continue to improve their performance in Southwest Florida in Saturday’s contest: after starting the year 6-7-1-2 at Germain Arena, Florida has run off a 4-1-1-1 mark in their last seven home dates.

Back in the lineup for the first time since a preseason leg injury, for St. Louis Blues winger Stefan Della Rovere made his Everblades debut Friday, registering five penalty minutes but no points. Defenseman Mike Little is available for Saturday’s game, having been activated from the 21-day injured reserve earlier in the day.

Friday marked Fort Wayne’s first shootout win of the season; the Komets were previously 0-5 after overtime.

With two assists in Friday’s win, Komets winger Brandon Marino now has a league-leading 67 points (21g, 46a), seven clear of Alaska’s Peter Sivak for the ECHL’s top mark.

Though Marino has performed well against the Blades (1g, 3a), blueliner Jordon Southorn has been the most effective Fort Wayne skater in the season series against Florida with three goals and five assists in four matchups.

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

Saturday’s series finale 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 6:45pm.

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 Blades’ next home game on February 22.

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.###