Everblades earn point in 4-3 OT loss to Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Cam Maclise scored with 56 seconds left in overtime to lift the Jacksonville Icemen to a 4-3 win over the Florida Everblades at Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday night. John McCarron extended his goal streak to three games and Derek Sheppard and Matt Finn registered their first goals of the season to help the Everblades (3-3-2-0, 8 pts.) earn three of four possible points in the weekend series with the Icemen (6-1-0-0, 12 pts.)In an extended sequence in the offensive zone, Kris Newbury found Maclise crashing the net at the far post, and Maclise shoveled it past Florida goaltender Jeremy Helvig to give Jacksonville the overtime win. The Everblades struck first for the second straight night thanks to the first goal of the season from Sheppard and the first of two power-play conversions in the game for Florida. Off a pass from defensive partner Jordon Southorn, Sheppard buzzed a wrist shot past Jacksonville goaltender Tanner Jaillet from the left point. Joe Cox also assisted on the play at 6:26 of the first period. Jacksonville answered with back-to-back goals to take its first lead of the night. Maclise snuck a sharp-angle shot from the right corner past Helvig to knot the game at one at the 9:32 mark of the first. After assisting on Maclise’s goal, Grant Cockerill converted on a rebound with 2:32 left in the first to make it a 2-1 Icemen advantage.  But the ‘Blades had a two-goal burst of their own to wrestle the one-goal lead back. With Florida on its second power play of the night, Finn wired a shot from the high slot past Jaillet with 45 seconds left in the first. McCarron deflected Zach Nastasiuk’s shot from the left point to beat Jaillet only 2:05 into the middle frame to push the ‘Blades ahead, 3-2. Jacksonville had another quick response to knot the game for the final time. Jake Randolph jammed a rebound past Helvig at the far post just 2:38 after Florida had surged ahead to make it 3-3. Phillips stood on his head in overtime for the ‘Blades, making five saves on six shots, including a stop on a Jacksonville breakaway, to get Florida to the final minute of the extra session. The rookie finished with 26 saves. Jaillet stopped 23 shots to earn the win for the Icemen. Nastasiuk and Southorn both extended their point streaks to three games for Florida. The ‘Blades return home to host the Icemen next weekend for Swampee’s Birthday and Military Night. Friday’s game will include a Swampee growth chart giveaway presented by Arthrex, and the Everblades will wear specialty camouflage jerseys on Saturday night for Military Night.  —Single-game tickets for all regular season games are on sale now!Ticket packages for the 2018-19 season are on sale now! Become part of the Everblades Family with a Full Season, Partial Season or a Flexible Voucher Package that fits your schedule and budget! All Ticket & Voucher Packages provide savings and special benefits! To view the Ticket & Voucher Package options CLICK HERE. Ask about the payment plan options too!SPECIAL OFFER! Purchase a new ticket package for the 2018-19 season and receive a $20 gift card to Ford’s Garage and an Everblades T-Shirt!Private Arena Tours are also available to select your 2018-19 season seats! Call the Everblades office at 239-948-7825 to schedule your tour today!

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