ESTERO, FL – Kyle Bushee scored with 47 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime, but the Florida Everblades held on the overtime shootout to defeat the Wheeling Nailers 3-2 at Germain Arena Friday night. Despite the loss, The Nailers rally to earn a big point in the standings, improving their magic number to four.
The Everblades avenged Wednesday’s slow start with a better effort in the opening period tonight. Florida received four first period power plays, scoring on one of them. Defenseman Jean-Francois David one-timed a slapshot from the point past Nailers goaltender Peter Delmas to give Florida the 1-0 lead after the first period.
The Nailers tied the game with a power play goal of their own. Newcomer Zach Hansen fired a shot from the high slot which was stopped by Blades goalie Mike Zacharias. However the rebound stalled in the crease, and Nailers Joey Haddad crashed the net and slipped the puck on the backhand into the net. Florida responded in a similar fashion with 2:14 remaining in the period. David fired a shot from the slot which bounced off the stick of Delmas, but the rebound was banked into the net by Alex Hutchings to give the Everblades a 2-1 lead after the 40 minutes played.
Things remained tight in the third as Florida held Wheeling scoreless into the game’s final minute. The Nailers pulled the goaltender to allow for an extra attacked on an offensive zone faceoff. The Everblades tried to clear the puck, but Kyle Bushee gloved it down to keep it in the zone. Bushee and hurled a wrist shot toward the net and was able to beat Zacharias to score the tying goal with 47 seconds remaining.
Bushee’s goal forced overtime in which neither team was able to generate much, sending the game to be decided in the shootout. Joey Haddad gave Wheeling a 1-0 lead early in the shootout, but Florida received goals from Brad Snetsinger, Dusty Collins, and Matt Beca to secure the 3-2 shootout victory. Wheeling outshot Florida 36-32 in the contest. The Nailers currently hold the sixth slot in the conference, just two points behind the Everblades who now hold the fourth seed.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday beginning at 7:00 p.m.
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