ORLANDO, FL -- For the second consecutive game, Adam Brace scored two goals to help lift the Florida Everblades to a 6-4 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears at the Amway Center Wednesday night. The Everblades (41-13-2-4, 88 points) extend their win steak to a season best eight games.
The Everblades got on the board first at 10:31 of the opening period. Adam Brace led a 2-on-1 rush into the zone on the right wing side. Brace eyed the trailer on the left wing, but decided to call his own number and wristed the puck high into the net past Orlando netminder Maxime Clermont.
Orlando produced a barrage of shots on Florida goaltender Matt Ginn in the first period. Ginn stopped the first 16 shots faced in the contest. However, the 17th shot clipped off the body of an Everblades defender in front. Brady Vail gathered the puck just below the net at the trapezoid and centered a feed back to the top of the crease. The puck hit off the body of Florida's Gleason Fournier and into the net to tie the game at 1-1 with just 2.4 seconds remaining in the period.
Early in the second, Florida took the lead back. Orlando defenseman Eric Baier lost the puck in the slot in his own end. Alex Lavoie gathered the puck and slipped a shot past Clermont to score on the 1-on-1 chance in front.
The Everblades added to their lead at 6:21 of the second off another Orlando turnover. Rob Florentino intercepted the puck at center and carried it into the zone. Florentino dropped a pass in the slot to Ray Kaunisto who snapped the puck high into the net past the Clermont's blocker to put the score at 3-1.
Moments later, Florida captain Jordan Henry lifted the score to 4-1 when he hurled a shot from the point that beat a screened Clermont.
Orlando's Jacob Cepis tried to get things going at 15:47 of middle frame, when he blasted a slapshot form the right wing circle past Ginn to pull the Solar Bears within two.
Just 29 seconds later, the 'Blades reclaimed a three-goal advantage. Mitch Wahl carried the puck into the zone on a 2-on-1 rush. Wahl steered a pass around the defender and perfectly to the stick of Adam Brace. Brace angled the puck high into the net for his second tally of the night.
Orlando started chipping away at Florida's 5-2 lead in the third. Eric Baier blistered a slapshot that cleanly beat Ginn for a goal, while Brett Findlay buried a rebound into the net less than a minute later to pull the Solar Bears within one at 5-4.
However, the Everblades grabbed some breathing room at the 11:42 mark, when Wahl put back a rebound off a shot from Brace into the goal to put the game at the eventual final score of 6-4.
Matt Ginn earned the win stopping 29 of 33 shots, while Clermont takes the loss allowing six goals on 32 shots faced.
Florida continues the seven-game road trip on Friday in Evansville. Game time is slated for 8:15 p.m. eastern time.
Upcoming Home Games & Promotions
Wednesday, April 1, vs. Reading, 7:30 p.m. -- Fans can enjoy $2 hot dogs, $2 drafts, $2 wines all night long in the concourse! It’s also College Night! College Students receive $5 tickets with free parking!
Friday, April 3, vs. Reading, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 4 vs. South Carolina, 7:00 p.m. Hearts & Hockey Ticket Packs are still available for just $50!*T-Shirt*Autographed Puck*4-Endzone Ticket Vouchers which can be redeemed for any game this season.
To order, call 239-948-7825, or stop by the Everblades main office at Germain Arena. Hearts & Hockey Packs are also available on game nights at the Everblades information table located in the concourse.
Ticket Information
Game Tickets: Everblades tickets may be purchased at the Century Link Prism Box Office located at Germain Arena, or at any Ticketmaster outlet, or online atwww.ticketmaster.com
Discounted 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.