Everblades Earn Point in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sean Josling opened the scoring with a first-period goal, but the Florida Everblades were able to claim just one point in the league standings, falling 2-1 in overtime to the Jacksonville Icemen Friday night at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena.

Everblades goaltender Cam Johnson was the story of the opening period, as he stopped all 15 Jacksonville shots that came his way. On the offensive end, Josling provided the early heroics – and the only goal of the first stanza – striking immediately after Mark Senden won a faceoff in the right circle. Josling’s 12^th tally of the year gave Florida a 1-0 lead just over 12 minutes into the contest.

While the good guys in green struck first, the second period went the way of the home-standing Icemen, as Jacksonville’s Christopher Brown slipped the puck past Johnson at the 1:45 mark to level the score at 1-1, a deadlock that would hold through the second intermission.

Offense continued to be at a premium throughout the third period, as neither team could snap the 1-1 tie, sending the game to overtime. Josling managed to slip behind the Jacksonville defense in the game’s final seconds, but was unable to convert as the buzzer sounded.

In the seven-minute, three-on-three extra frame, both teams had ample opportunities in a wide-open game, but were unable to end things until Jacksonville’s Garrett Van Wyhe collected the game-winner 3:41 into the bonus session.

Despite being outshot 15-10 in the first period, the Everblades ended up leading the shots on goal battle 32-29 through 60 minutes of regulation and 34-30 through overtime.

Johnson (15-9-4-2) registered 28 saves in goal for Florida, while Matt Vernon (17-4-1-0) made 33 saves for the Icemen.

The Everblades now head up the coast for a pair against the South Carolina Stingrays in the Palmetto State on Saturday, February 17 and Sunday, February 18 at 6:05 p.m. and 3:05 p.m., respectively.

The Blades will return to Hertz Arena to close out February with a three-game set against the Worcester Railers on Wednesday February 21, Friday, February 23 and Saturday, February 24. Puck drop for the first two games will be 7:30 p.m., while Saturday’s matchup will begin at 7:00 p.m. 

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

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BLADES BITS

Sean Josling’s lid lifter was his 12^th goal of the year, marking his first tally since the Blades’ 4-1 victory over Atlanta on January 24. Josling snapped a two-game string without a point, as he collected three assists in the recent three-game series sweep of Adirondack. Mark Senden assisted on Josling’s goal, his first point since scoring goals in games one and two of the Adirondack series.

Both Josling and Senden led all players with five shots on goal, as the Everblades have outshot the opposition in five straight games.

With an overtime game on Friday on the heels of a shootout contest two days ago, the Blades played bonus hockey in back-to-back contests for the second time this season. Florida last played past 60 minutes in consecutive games on January 5 in a win at Atlanta and on January 6 in a loss at Greenville. 

Friday Night’s Scoresheet 

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