Everblades Dominate Orlando In Road Win

After falling 3-2 to the Orlando Solar Bears Wednesday night, the defending Kelly Cup Champion Florida Everblades got revenge Friday night at Kia Center in Orlando with a 4-1 victory.

Carson Gicewicz put Florida on the scoreboard after a sluggish start to the first period. Gicewicz put in a beautiful slapshot unassisted for a shorthanded goal. It was Gicewicz’s third point over his last two games.

Marc-Andre Gaudet came back to haunt his old Solar Bears teammates at the 8:25 mark of the second period. He rifled a shot from the blueline through traffic and into the net for a 2-0 Blades lead.

The Solar Bears finally broke through with their only tally 10 minutes later on an Alex Frye goal at the 18:25 mark.

With just under two minutes left in the second, Florida answered when Isaac Nurse scored his first professional goal, unassisted, to make the score 3-1.

Following a breakaway, Nurse went one-on-one with Orlando goaltender Alexis Gravel, zipping a shot through the five-hole.

The Blades put the finishing touches on the evening under a minute later when Jesse Lansdell recovered a shot attempt by Kyle Betts. Lansdell connected with Alex Kile for a one-timer that found the back of the twine for the eventual 4-1 final.

Florida goalie Cam Johnson saved 25 of the 26 shots he faced. Coming into the game, Johnson led the ECHL with a 1.52 goals-against average. Gravel suffered the defeat, stopping 28 of 32 shots.

The Everblades improve their record to 17-5-1 on the season. The Solar Bears fall to 11-12-2 with the loss.

Florida travels to Jacksonville for one game against the Icemen Saturday before coming home to The Swamp next weekend.