PREVIEW: 'Blades search for opening weekend sweep of Admirals

ESTERO, Fla. — Following an opening night win on Friday, the Florida Everblades (1-0-0, 2 pts.) look to claim their first series sweep of the season when they face off against the Norfolk Admirals (0-1-0, 0 pts.) on Saturday at the Norfolk Scope. 

VITALS:Game 2: Everblades at NorfolkWhen: 7:35 p.m. ETWhere: Norfolk ScopeWatch: ECHL TVListen: WJBX (101.5 FM, 104.3 FM, 770 AM)Social: Twitter | Instagram

Last time outAfter Norfolk scored just 1:52 into the opening period, Florida struck for the next four goals, including three in the opening period, to open up a 4-1 lead by the early stages of the second period. Justin Auger started the scoring for Florida and Blake Winiecki quickly followed with a goal only 2:03 later to give the 'Blades the lead for good around the halfway mark of the first. Tanner Jeannot and Michael Huntebrinker had the other two tallies for Florida, while Ken Appleby made 28 saves in his Everblades debut. RECAP | BOX SCORE

Series historyThe two sides met eight times a year ago but will only square off on four occasions in the regular season this year. The limited meetings are front-loaded, too. Florida's first three games are against the Admirals, including the 'Blades home opener next Saturday. However, the final meeting between the division foes won't come until late February. The Everblades finished with a 6-1-1 overall mark against the Admirals last season and a 2-0-1 record at the Norfolk Scope. Florida continued its stark advantage in the all-time series with Friday's win and holds a 17-2-3 mark against Norfolk since the Admirals joined the ECHL in 2015-16. 

Players to WatchMichael Huntebrinker (FLA) - The third-year pro quickly worked his way into the mix on Friday and scored his first goal with the Everblades, a tally that held up as the game-winning score. The Chesterfield, Missouri, native struck for three game-winning scores a season ago with Reading and now has seven game-winners in his career. He averaged better than a point per game (44 pts) in 36 games with the Royals last season. 

JC Campagna (NOR) - Campagna helped ignite the Admirals attempted comeback on Friday and scored on a breakaway right on the heels of serving a penalty to pull Norfolk within two goals in the second period. Campagna, who is in his fourth year as a pro, spent almost all of the 2018-19 season with the Fort Wayne Komets, registering 35 goals and 49 points in 61 games with Fort Wayne. He had multiple goals on seven occasions a year ago. 

Fire AwayThe 'Blades set the tone in the opening period of Friday's game with 19 shots on goal, which was just three shots shy of its highest total for one period a season ago. Florida finished the contest with 42 shots on goal, the second-highest shot total from the seven ECHL games on Friday. A year ago, the Everblades reached at least 40 shots on goal on 16 occasions and turned in a 13-2-1 record in those contests. 

Season-Opening StatementFlorida improved to 17-4-1 in season openers with Friday's 4-3 win over the Admirals. The 'Blades are 3-1-0 in the first game of the regular season under head coach Brad Ralph, while all four season openers under Ralph have ended up being one-goal affairs. Friday marked the second straight season Florida has opened up on the road, but it was just the seventh time total it has started the season away from home. The 'Blades are now 4-2-1 in season openers on the road. 

Getting in the MixThe Everblades had five players net a point in their debut with the team, which included three players who notched their first career ECHL point. Adam Smith (1a), Hunter Garlent (1a) and Tanner Jeannot (1g) all factored into the scoresheet on the same goal for their first ECHL point, while Michael Huntebrinker (1g) and Cam Maclise (1a) both tabbed a point in their team debuts. 

​​​​​​Next UpFlorida hosts the Admirals this coming Saturday, Oct. 19, for Opening Night presented by Hertz. Faceoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Hertz Arena, with a free pregame tailgate from 5-7 p.m. 

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The Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Nashville Predators and AHL's Milwaukee Admirals