Re-Cap: Everblades vs. Stingrays (3/30/11)

Although the Everblades were lucky enough to have their playoff spot handed to them they won't be lucky enough to have home ice advantage handed to them, so they're going have to actually buckle down and play some hockey. The question is, will they?
-----------------------------------
The Blades came out strong and really played physically. It was a delightful change of pace to be honest. The game remained scoreless until Bobby Raymond threw one to the net on the power play. Mathieu Roy re-directed it past the Stingrays goalie to make it 1-0 at the 15:58 mark. Following the goal, Tim Spencer dropped the Gloves and took on a Stingray right at center ice.



He landed a few bombs and took some as well and left the ice to the crowd roaring. The Rays weren't able to even it up and the period ended with the Blades still up 1-0.
------------------------------------
The Stingrays maintained much of the puck possession in the second. The game could have easily tilted to the Stingrays favor if goalie Mike Zacharias had not stood so tall. The Blades increased their lead late in the period to 2-0 thanks to a beautiful wrister from Alex Hutchings off of a loveley pass from Ian McDonald about 16 minutes into the period. Immediately after the goal a minor scrum ensued.



Somehow, Hutchings ended up with an attempted spearing call against him. I'm still not sure when this "spearing" occurred. It didn't matter though, Mathieu Roy made it 3-0 minutes later. His goal, with 12 seconds left on the clock, really got the arena rocking. The score remained 3-0 when the period ended and it was great to see the score after so much pressure from the Stingrays.
--------------------------------------
The Blades really looked good in the third. They skated well, and made solid passes. Unfortunately, the Stingrays still maintained much of the puck possession throughout the period. It paid of for the Rays when they were finally able to figure out Zacharias around 7 minutes into the period to ruin his shut-out and make it 3-1. Despite their hard work, the Blades were really shut-down, only managing 4 shots in the period. Luckily
, one of those shots was able to get past the Rays goalie. That goal, Tim Spencers first as an Everblade, exactly 18 minutes into the period made it 4-1. The Stingrays just could not come back and when the final horn sounded, the Blades skated away with a much needed, and well deserved, win.
Three stars: 3. Spencer, 2. Zacharias, 1. Roy
-------------------------------------

Game photos:
 

-------------------------------------
Some thoughts:
- I feel a lot better about the goaltending situation as long as Zacharias is under contract. He obviously likes playing here.
- I have no idea why, but I type out Matt Zacharias every time I want to say Mike Zacharias. Weird.
- Raymond was awesome as usual. Really, how has no AHL team even called him up yet?
- It was nice of Imbeault to show up and play. He looked good.
- It would have been nice to not have as many shots allowed (35? Sheesh). Thank goodness Zacharias is on fire right now.
- There were a few too many neutral zone turnovers and they did get caught flat footed a few times. The game could easily gone in the Rays favor.