'Blades Close Preseason with 4-1 Win Over Orlando

ESTERO, FL – Alex Lavoie scored twice to help lead the Florida Everblades to a 4-1 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears Saturday night at Germain Arena.  With the win,  the ‘Blades close out their preseason slate with a 1-1 mark.

For the second time in as many nights, Kevin Lynch scored the game’s opening goal.  Mike Aviani carried the puck through the high slot and slid a pass to the ring wing circle to a hustling Lynch.  Lynch caught the puck in stride and broke toward the net and flipped a backhand shot that cleanly beat Orlando netminder Ilya Chernov for the goal at 17:37.

Florida tacked on two more goals in the second on a pair of goals from Alex Lavoie.  The first of his goals was set up by Christian Kraus who feathered a breakaway pass into the zone to a rushing Lavoie. Lavoie skated in on goal and wristed a shot through the five-hole of Chernov to put the ‘Blades up 2-0.

Nearly six minutes later Lavoie stuck again, shoving in a rebound from a Kyle Stroh shot behind Chernov to extend the Florida lead by three.

Moments later, Orlando got on the board when Ben Rosen was able to tap in a rebound amongst a wild scramble in front of the Everblades net to put the score at 3-1 after 40 minutes played.

In the third, Florida sealed the game on sniper’s shot from Danick Gauthier who snapped a shot from the right wing circle high past the glove of Chernov.  Gauthier’s second goal of the preseason secured the ‘Blades 4-1 victory.

Daniel Altshuller got the start in net on Saturday and earned the win by turning aside 19 of 20 shots faced, while Chernov take the loss allowing four goals on 26 shots.