The Blades struck first just 6:46 into the first frame when Kyle Penney delivered a quick pass from behind the net from Stingrays goalkeeper Mitchell Gibson to Oliver Cooper for an early lead. South Carolina managed to beat Blades goalie Cam Johnson, but officials waved off the mark after a review showed the Stingrays had a high stick, still leaving them trailing by one. The home side wasted no time in widening the goal gap as a blue line shot from Kyle Betts bounced on goal off Gibson’s right pad, giving Carson Gicewicz enough time and space to collect the rebound. Florida ended the first period with a 19-2 lead.
The Stingrays flipped the script at 5:46 of the second period after a quick release from Patrick Guzzo snuck past Johnson to cut the Blades’ lead in half. The rival’s goal was the only goal of the period and brought them within one as the Blades maintained a 29-12 advantage in shots.
Florida regained control early in the final frame when Penney collected his own rebound off the boards and fired a wrist shot for his second point of the night, his first multi-point performance in an Everblades jersey.
After 60 minutes, the Blades completed a 3-1 win, with Johnson deflecting 21 of 22 Stingrays shots. Florida generated 39 tries of their own, with Gibson stopping 36 to seal the Blades’ victory.
The two teams will face off again this Friday, November 19 for a 7:30 puck drop as part of their two-game series at Hertz Arena.
Wednesday’s play sheet
BLADE BITS
- Penney played the first multi-point game of his career.
- Quinton Burns and Anthony Beauchamp both played their first home games with Florida.
- Burns had the first fight of his career in the first period.
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