(Bare bones re-cap, sorry people)
If there was a worse time to lose your two leading scorers, captain, and both your goalies, it would probably be when you take on the team your fighting with for a playoff spot. Unfortunately, that's just where the Blades find themselves in their weekend series with the Stingrays.
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The first period was played very tight. Both teams were determined to come out on top. A goal from Matt Beca that beat former Blade goalie Shane Owen at 17:36 was the only tally in the period. Thanks to some great saves from recently signed goalie Adam Avromenko the Blades led at the end of the period 1-0.
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The Stingrays came out swinging in the second. A misplayed puck allowed the Rays to tie it up 1-1 a little over two minutes into the period. About nine minutes later they took the 2-1 lead. The Blades could not get anything going and were kept of the board as a result. At the end of the period the score remained 2-1.
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In almost the reverse of the second period the Blades scored about two minutes in. The goal, from Ian McDonald, tied things up 2-2. The teams traded chances for most of the period. Unfortunately, the Stingrays were able to rip one past Avromenko at the 17:56 mark to take the 3-2 lead. Though they tried, the Blades just couldn't answer back before the final buzzer sounded. They trailed SOG 18-39.
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Some thoughts:
- At this point the power play can only be described as impotent. We can't go 0 for 5 in a must win game.
- Thank god the penalty kill is chugging along. Otherwise we'd be paying for all the incredibly stupid penalties.
- I will continue to argue that we need to sign (or keep) a goalie on an ECHL contract.
- Why not Avronmenko? He stopped 36 of 39 shots. That's not too shabby when you compare it to Owen's 16 saves on 18 shots.
- That reminds me... how about we try shooting more? Seems to work for other teams.
Congrats Matt! You win a Bobby Goepfert t-shirt and the honor of calling yourself a guest writer on Swamp Hockey (I'm sure that's the best part).
Here's my recap. Painful revisiting it, but..
- The first period seemed to mirror the first period on Friday night. After 2 quick Everblade shots in the first minute, the Road Warriors controlled all of the play.
- Goepfert was amazing. Again.
- Its very easy for me to tell how bad the Everblades are playing in the first period based on at what point my wife complains that her neck is sore from staring all the way down to the other end of the ice. This occurred at around 8 minutes in. That's very early.
- It did appear the referees were going to let the boys play, which, as soon as I made that observation was inevitably followed by a ridiculous interference call on Phil Paquet, and the resulting Greenville goal to make it 1-0.
- Once again, the second period seemed to shift momentum back to the Everblades. They looked quick, sharp and controlled much of the puck time. Not good for my wife's neck, but good for our team.
- Ethan Graham brought the house down with a rocket from the left circle, scoring shorthanded to tie the game at 1-1.
- The 2nd period ended with Mathieu Roy getting a stick to the head from our good friend T.J Reynolds while down on the ice. Mike McKenzie jumped in to defend him, didn't do very well, but did what he had to. All Reynolds got was a 'roughing' penalty, while Roy got called for slashing. Insanity.
- In the 3rd, things seemed pretty even, until the Blades broke out and scored two quick brilliant goals by Alex Hutchings. The first was a nifty play by Lemieux to send the two of them in 2 on 1, perfect pass and a perfect finish to give the Blades the lead.
- Why doesn't Bobby Raymond play more forward? Holy crow what a rush down the left and with a pinpoint pass and deflection, the Blades took a 3-1 lead.
- Then the stomach punching began. 30 seconds later, Greenville cut the lead to 1 when Carroll was left alone in front of the net. He could have bought Bobby dinner and drinks before he scored. 3-2.
- Of course, this goal seemed to put the Blades on their heels, which, is a magnet for more horrible ECHL referring. Mike Egener got called for a silly tripping call, which naturally resulted in the tying goal.
- The rest of the 3rd period was a blur, I couldn't watch half the time as every time I would look over, Bobby would have to make some ridiculous sprawling save.
- This happened at least 4-5 more times until OT ended and the shootout began.
- It took 12 rounds for Greenville to win the game. Goepfert looked exhausted towards the end of it and how could he not be. It was a game which Florida didn't deserve to win, but were given another point by their goalie, who has earned some time off.
- It was a hard loss to swallow. So many ups and downs, but again we left disappointed. Greenville showed why they're the best team in the league. They're better than the Blades right now, and it shows.
The Everblades started what would be the biggest series so far this season. With the division leading Greenville Road Warriors coming to town, they had to string together some wins if they hoped to put themselves in a good position going into the later half of the year.
While on the penalty kill for an interference call, one of the Road Warriors shot the puck over the glass. It actually flew all the way down to the other end and hit a fan sitting behind the net in the jaw. Luckily, the guy was all right, and the Blades were able to convert on their 5 on 3 with about 15 seconds left on the first penalty. The goal, Ethan Graham's first goal of the year, gave the Blades the 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission. One of the Road Warriors continued the teams undisciplined play by going after Alex Hutchings after the buzzer for the end of the period sounded. It didn't matter though, because the Blades held the 2-0 lead and had the Road Warriors on their toes for most of the period.
- I've said it the last few games, Goepfert's been amazing since coming back from the all-star break. He stopped 37 of 39 shots.
