ESTERO, Fla – The Florida Everblades potted three first-period goals to take an advantage they would not surrender, and took a 6-3 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears Friday night at Hertz Arena.
The Blades took an early lead in the first with a two-on-one goal scored by Bobo Carpenter (8:49). However, the Solar Bears leveled the score just moments later, with a Ryan Cox redirection (11:19). Florida had the last laugh going into the first intermission, with goals from Logan Lambdin (13:19) and Will Reilly (16:27) lifting the Blades to a 3-1 lead.
The Everblades wasted no time scoring in the second, as Oliver Chau netted his second goal of the preseason off the opening draw to make it 4-1 (0:09). Again, Orlando answered, this time with an Aaron Luchuk tip near the hash marks (4:23). Florida walked to the locker room up by two, 4-2.
The two teams again traded goals in the third, with Zach Tsekos (0:58) starting the action, followed up by Tanner Schachle for Orlando (1:16), and capped off by Andrew Fyten (9:21) for a birthday goal to make it 6-3.
Cam Johnson made 23 saves for the Everblades, while Evan Fitzpatrick turned aside 24 in the Solar Bears cage.
Fights, penalties, and scraps abounded, as both sides combined for 71 minutes of penalties – 40 from Orlando and 31 from Florida.
This game was the last of the preseason for the Everblades. Florida will travel to Orlando next week to open the regular season against the Solar Bears.
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