ESTERO, Fla. – The Florida Everblades and Maine Mariners treated 6,979 fans to an absolute classic Saturday night at Hertz Arena, playing 67 minutes of scoreless hockey through regulation and overtime, before Maine scored in rounds three and four of a shootout to claim a 1-0 decision in the rubber match of the teams’ three-game series.

Both goaltenders, Cam Johnson of Florida and Brad Arvanitis of Maine, were flawless. Johnson turned aside 23 shots for the Everblades, while Arvanitis registered 36 saves for the Mariners.

Despite claiming a 12-8 advantage in shots on goal over the game’s opening 20 minutes, the Blades found themselves in a scoreless tie heading into the first intermission. Florida enjoyed the only power-play shift of the wide-open initial frame, but were unable to capitalize on the opportunity against Arvanitis, who matched Cam Johnson on the other end of the ice.

Neither team managed to get off the schneid in the second period as scoreless hockey continued to be the theme through 40 minutes. Johnson remained a brick wall in net for the Blades with seven saves in the middle frame, while Arvanitis stopped six shots for Maine. The visiting Mariners went 0-for-2 on the power play in the second, clanking two shots off the post on Maine’s first power play, but the 0-0 deadlock carried over into the third period.

Johnson and Arvanitis matched each other save for save into the middle stages of the final frame. A third Everblades power play shift at the 9:48 saw the Blades apply Florida’s most intense pressure of the night, hitting the post on one occasion, but the good guys could not muster the go-ahead goal. The Everblades outshot the Mariners 13-5 in the third period and 31-20 through regulation as the scoreless deadlock went into overtime.

In the seven-minute three-on-three overtime session, both teams managed good looks early, with Maine even hitting the post for a third time on the night with 3:56 to play. What appeared to be the apparent game-winning goal for the Everblades by Logan Lambdin with 2:38 to play was waved off. Despite several more strong attempts for the Blades in the final two minutes, the 0-0 game headed to a shootout. Florida outshot Maine 5-3 in overtime and 36-23 through 67 minutes of action.

Florida went first in the shootout, with both teams coming up short in rounds one and two. Reid Duke struck gold for the Everblades in round three, but was matched by Maine’s Sebastian Vidmar, sending matters into extra shooters before Maine’s Xander Lamppa finished off the win for the Mariners.

The Everblades will enjoy five days off before the five-game homestand continues with a pair of matchups at Hertz Arena against the Jacksonville Icemen on Friday, February 20 and Saturday, February 21. Puck drops are slated for 7:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively. Visit floridaeverblades.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

 

---

BLADES BITS

The Everblades were involved in only one other 1-0 decision this year, an overtime victory over visiting Orlando on December 13. Gianfranco Cassaro netted the game-winner 5:21 into bonus hockey, making a winner out of goaltender Will Cranley. The Everblades’ last 1-0 victory in regulation came at Orlando on November 11, 2024, with goal-scorer Tyler Kobryn and netminder Cam Johnson serving as the heroes.

Jordan Sambrook saw his four-game point and assist streaks come to an end.

Saturday night’s game marks the Everblades’ final contest outside the South Division this season until the Reading Royals visit Hertz Arena for a pair of rescheduled games on April 17-18. The final two regular-season games of the season were originally slated to be played December 27-28.

Saturday Night’s Scoresheet 

 ---

JOIN THE FUN
Season ticket plans for the 2025-26 campaign are on sale now! Become a Blades 365 Member for the 2025-26 season and enjoy incredible savings and benefits! To view the Blades 365 Membership savings, benefits, and options click HERE.

Group Packages are available for a group of 10 or more! Everblades put FUN in FUNdraising! There is no handling of money or tickets and no limit to the amount of money your group can make with the Everblades' easy-to-run online Fundraiser! For more information, or to reserve a Fundraiser Night at an Everblades regular-season home game, call or text (239) 948-7825.
  
Grab the newest and hottest Everblades merchandise by checking out the entire collection that is available online by visiting shop.floridaeverblades.com or at the Hertz Arena Pro Shop!

 
JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Watch every Florida Everblades game on FloHockey.TV. Listen to the exciting game action on ESPN Southwest Florida on 770 AM, 98.1 FM, 104.3 FM, or online at espnswfl.com. Stay up to date by following the Blades on social media with all the latest news, scores, and promotions on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and Twitter.