ECHL’s Evansville IceMen and Florida Everblades need 21 shootout rounds to determine winner

Did you miss the ending of the ECHL game Friday night between the Florida Everblades and Evansville IceMen? If so, you missed a record-tying shootout. Just take a look at the box score:

That's right, the teams needed until the twenty-first round to decide the 5-4 win for Evansville.

Florida had built up a 3-1 lead after the first period, but Evansville clawed back with three of their own in the second period to take a one goal advantage. Early in the third period, Everblades forward Mike Merrified tied the game with his second of the night, which would send the game into overtime and eventually the 42-player shootout where Andre Bouvet-Morrissette would end things in the 21st round.

The teams meet again Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET, where they probably hope to wrap things up sooner.

According to the ECHL, the last shootout that went 21 rounds happened on Oct. 16, 1992 when the Birmingham Bulls beat the Hampton Roads Admirals 7-6. In 2008, the Fresno Falcons and Phoenix RoadRunners reached 20 rounds before a winner was determined.

The longest shootout in NHL history came on Nov. 26, 2005 when the Marek Malik's trick shot in the 15th round gave the New York Rangers the win over the Washington Capitals.

Stick-tap Bob McKenzie

Follow Sean Leahy on Twitter at @Sean_Leahy