Everblades Rally from Four Down to Defeat Komets 6-4

Written by Robert Molnar 

FORT WAYNE, IN – Michael Kirkpatrick and Mike Ferrantino each scored two goals while Brant Harris and Curt Gogol each added an additional tally to help lead the Florida Everblades (42-19-2-3, 89 pts) to an amazing 6-4 come from behind win over the Fort Wayne Komets (39-18-6-2, 86 pts) Sunday eveing at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

BOX SCORE

Fort Wayne got on the board first just over two and a half minutes into the first period after scoring on a third chance opportunity in front of the Florida net. The Komets began to pepper Everblades goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic with shots. With Florida unable to clear the puck, Brett Perlini converted the third chance opportunity to get the Komets on the board.

Less than three minutes later, Fort Wayne jumped out to a 2-0 lead on another chance from right in front of the Florida net. Attempting to clear the puck, the Everblades became the victim of an unlucky bounce that sent the puck towards the front of their own goal. Brett Perlini found himself at the right place at the right time and wasted no time jamming home his second tally of the game. The goal was also Alex Nedeljkovic’s last piece of action as he was quickly replaced by Anthony Peters.

Just over five minutes after the change, Fort Wayne extended their lead to 3-0. Getting the puck in the high slot on a feed from Ryan Lowney, Trevor Cheek made a nifty looking spin move to get out of traffic. In the clear, Cheek wristed home his shot into the top corner of the net.

Jjust 21 seconds later, the Komets extended their lead to 4-0 and looked to be in cruise control as Cody Sol sniped home a wicked chance from inside the high slot. Quickly moving the puck into the attacking zone following the center ice faceoff, Jamie Schaafsma found Sol alone in the slot. With no one around him, Sol sniped home his shot top shelf past the glove of Anthony Peters.

The ‘Blades started the second period with a power play opportunity and began to crawl their way back into this game just 31 seconds into the middle frame. Mike Marcou gained possession just inside the blue line before firing a quick shot towards goal. The shot was tipped by Michael Kirkpatrick (pictured above)  just enough to slip by Fort Wayne goaltender Garrett Bartus.

Florida continued to fight back, and cut Fort Wayne’s lead in half late in the middle frame as Michael Kirkpatrick scored his second goal of the contest. Brendan O’Donnell made a nice move before getting the puck to Kirkpatrick at the low circle. Kirkpatrick ripped a shot that banged off the opposite side post and into the back of the net.

Less than a minute later, the ‘Blades continued to build momentum and made the score 4-3. The Komets were forced into a turnover when Curt Gogol lowered the boom on a Fort Wayne defensemen. The hit from Gogol forced  the puck to deflect right towards the front of goal where an arriving Mike Ferrantino buried it into the net.

Florida continued its assault in the third and tied the game at 4-4 just under two and a half minutes into the final frame.  John McCarron sprung the Everblades on a two-on-one the other direction. McCarron lifted a shot across the ice to Curt Gogol who buried his shot past a diving Garrett Bartus.

Midway through the third period, the ‘Blades completed the comeback bid and took a 5-4 lead when Mike Ferrantino scored his second goal of the contest on a nice tip play out in front of goal. Dalton Smith raced into the zone on the left wing and sent a low shot towards the net. Racing to get there, Ferrantino managed to clip the puck with his stick, sending it flipping over goaltender and into the back of the net.

Following the goal, Fort Wayne would make a change at goaltender, bringing in former Florida netminder Pat Nagle to replace Garrett Bartus. Despite this change, it proved to be a case of too little, too late for the Komets.

Fort Wayne was continuously denied by a determined Florida Everblades defense, and eventually pulled its goaltender for the last minute of the contest.  However, it was not to be for Fort Wayne as Brant Harris would bury an empty net tally late in the contest, clinching an amazing 6-4 come from behind victory.

Anthony Peters played extremely well after coming in midway through the first period, earning the win in goal for the ‘Blades after stopping 24 of the 26 shots he faced. Alex Nedeljkovic started the game in goal for Florida but was pulled after allowing two goals on three shots. Garrett Bartus suffers the loss in goal for the Komets after allowing five goals on 26 shots. Former Florida goaltender Pat Nagle also appeared in net for the Komets, stopping all five of the shots he faced.

The Florida Everblades now return home and will kickoff a three game slate against the Kalamazoo Wings this Wednesday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. Everblades tickets may be purchased at the Florida Community Bank Box Office located at Germain Arena, at any Ticketmaster outlet, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Fans can also catch the game broadcast on WJBX News, Talk & More on 101.5-FM.104.3-FM, 770-AM or by CLICKING HERE. Fans can also watch the game online at ECHL.TV

Upcoming Home Games & Promotions Wednesday, March 29 vs. Kalamazoo, 7:30 p.m. – The final $2 Wednesday of the season!  Fans can enjoy $2 hot dogs, $2 beers, $2 wines all night long! Wednesday is also College Night.  College students receive a $5 tickets with free parking when they present their College ID at Germain Arena.

Friday, March 31 vs. Kalamazoo, 7:30 p.m. – Joins us for dinner & hockey, as kids eat FREE in the Breakaway Sports Pub with the purchase of an adult entree! The first 400 fans will receive FREE passes to the Naples Zoo!   There will also be a Jason's Deli giveaway as well!  We will be celebrating youth hockey throughout the night with the Junior Everblades Hiockey Association.

Saturday, April 1 vs. Kalamazoo, 7:00 p.m. – First 500 fans (aged 12 and under) will receive a FREE Everblades Jersey courtesy of Wendy's!   It is also Storybook Prince & Princess Night, featuring themed characters and photo booth in the concourse!  From 5-7 p.m. there will be live music and bounce houses for the kids!Ticket InformationGame Tickets: Everblades tickets may be purchased at the Florida Community Bank Box Office located at Germain Arena, or at any Ticketmaster outlet, or online at  www.ticketmaster.com

Special Offer!  Purchase any new ticket package for the 2016-17 season, and receive an Everblades jersey t-shirt and a $20 gift card from Ford's Garage!  Locations include Cape Coral, Downtown Fort Myers and Miromar Outlets in Estero.  We offer several tickets packages designed to help fit your budget and schedule.

Discounted Group Tickets: Bring your group of 10 or more to a game at a discounted price, and you may also receive an Everblades souvenir! Group tickets are available for all home games. For more information on group tickets, call 239-948-7825.

This release courtesy of Fort Myers Technical College & Cape Coral Technical College

The Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliateof the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes###