DARCY AND TENDECK LIFT BLADES PAST WORCESTER

ESTERO, Fla. – Cam Darcy’s first goal of the year in the final minute of the second period proved to be the game-winner, and goaltender David Tendeck turned aside 35 of 36 shots to lead the Florida Everblades to a thrilling 3-1 victory over the Worcester Railers Friday night at Hertz Arena. A standing room only crowd of 7,231 Southwest Florida hockey fans went home ecstatic as the Blades picked up a second win in as many games over the Railers.

Worcester struck first, as Trevor Cosgrove gave the Railers an early 1-0 lead some 5:37 after the opening draw. 

Evan Boucher got the Everblades on the board at 14:59, as he buried a blast from the high slot to pull the Blades even at 1-1 through one period. Boucher’s goal was the first of his professional career and came in his return to the Everblades lineup after a three-week absence. Kyle Neuber and Brett Davis earned the helpers.

It appeared that the 1-1 deadlock would survive the second period, but Darcy had other ideas, tipping in a blast by Sean Josling from the left circle after a gorgeous cross-ice feed from Joe Pendenza with 23.1 seconds left in the frame. Darcy’s power-play tally gave Florida a 2-1 lead. The Blades outshot the Railers 16-10 in the middle frame to take a 27-22 edge in shots on goal after 40 minutes.

The Blades staved off a 6-on-4 Worcester advantage in the closing minutes of the third period – and Pendenza added an empty net goal, his 17^th marker of the season, with 41.7 seconds to play – to seal the victory.

Both teams had 36 shots on goal, as Tendeck (5-5-0-0; 2-0-0-0 w/ Florida) was a winner over John Muse (10-6-1-0), who had 33 stops.

The three-game set against the Railers wraps up Saturday, February 24 at 7:00 p.m. Saturday’s contest is also First Responders Night, presented by the Cape Coral Professional Firefighters. Blades players will don specialty jerseys for MDA and also available to be bid on using the Dash Auction App. Saturday also features a pre-game tailgate with live music.

Visit floridaeverblades.com for more information and to purchase tickets. 

 

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BLADES BITS

The combination of rookie Evan Boucher and long-time veteran Kyle Neuber got the Everblades on the board in the first period. Boucher’s tally was the first of his professional career and came in his return to the Blades lineup after a three-week absence. The University of Ottawa product’s only previous point came in his pro debut back on January 24 in a 4-1 victory over Atlanta. With eight assists on the year, Neuber has three helpers to his credit in the month of February, matching his total from January. Brett Davis also picked up his first point in three games with a secondary helper.

Cam Darcy’s first goal of the season came in his 14^th game and was his first point since picking up an assist in the finale of the Adirondack series on February 10. On the power-play goal – the Everblades’ third in the last four games – Sean Josling and Joe Pendenza earned helpers for the second consecutive night.

David Tendeck was in winner for the second time in two starts for the Everblades, registering XX saves just six days after making 39 stops in his Blades debut, a 4-1 win over host Charleston last Saturday.

 

With victories in the first two games of the series, the Everblades are now 4-1 all-time versus the Railers since Worcester joined the ECHL in 2017-18. This series marks the first time that the clubs have met on Hertz Arena ice.

Friday Night’s Scoresheet 

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