'Blades Open Road Trip with 3-2 Loss

ESTERO, FL – Orlando goaltender Kent Patterson made 34 saves to help lead the Solar Bears to a 3-2 victory over the Florida Everblades at the Amway Center Saturday evening.  The Everblades (19-4-0-1, 39 pts) see their seven game win streak come to an end.Orlando opened the game on the attack, totaling 17 shots in the first period.  Fortunately for the Everblades, their goaltender Allen York was on point.Despite stopping chance after chance by the Solar Bears, York eventually surrendered the game’s first goal off a rebound opportunity. Jacob Cepis crept behind the defense and charged in on net with a 1-on-1 chance with York After a few deke moves Cepis attempted to slide the puck around York who held his ground to make the stop. However, the defense failed to pick up Greg Miller who buried the rebound into the net.

The Everblades tied the game on the power play when Alex Aleardi attempted to slide the puck across the crease to Adam Brace. However, the puck clipped the leg of Orlando netminder Kent Patterson and banked into the net for the goal for Aleardi’s fourth tally of the season.

Orlando reclaimed the lead at 14:40 of the second period on a one-timed drive by Patrick Watling.

The Solar Bears assumed a two-goal edge just 52 seconds later, when Cepis batted in a round following a shot from Greg Miller.  Orlando took the 3-1 lead into the second break.

Florida started to gain momentum in the third period, and its efforts were rewarded when Mike Aviani netted a shorthanded tally.   Aviani picked up a rebound from a Brant Harris shot and shoved it into the net for the goal to pull the Everblades within one.

The ‘Blades continued to pepper the Orlando net with shots, but Patterson came up with all of the stops down the stretch to preserve the 3-2 Orlando win.

Patterson earns the win stopping 34 of 36 shots faced, while York takes the loss despite a solid effort allowing three goals on 45 shots.

The two teams will meet again on Sunday at the Amway Center beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Upcoming Home Games & PromotionsFriday, January 9, 7:30 p.m. vs. Orlando  .Saturday, January 10, 7:00 p.m. vs. Orlando - The Fur Circus will be performing and it's Heroes and Villains Night! Ticket InformationGame Tickets: Everblades tickets may be purchased at the Century Link Box Office located at Germain Arena, or at any Ticketmaster outlet, or online atwww.ticketmaster.comDiscounted Group Tickets: Bring your group of 10 or more to a game at a discounted price, and also receive an Everblades souvenir! Group tickets are available for all home games. For more information on group tickets, call 239-948-7825.12 & 24 Game Ticket Packages are currently on sale!  All packages save you money from the box office price, and come with many great benefits.  For more information call  239-948-7825, or stop by the Everblades Main Office located at Germain Arena, Monday—Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Holiday Ticket Packs are now on sale!  Receive four endzone vouchers for any game during the regular season, an Everblades holiday t-shirt, and an autograph puck for just $50!  Holiday packs will be available at the Everblades information table in the concourse during home games, or at the Everblades main office located a Germain Arena.