NBC2 EVERBLADES PLAYOFF BLOG: Looking good through two
-Chris Long, NBC2 Sports (e-mail)
The difference in the regular season series between the Florida Everblades and Greenville came down to the power play. The Everblades scored on an amazing 30 percent of their extra-man advantages, while Greenville scored on just 8 percent… a total of just three goals. Thanks to their special teams success, the Blades went 3-2-1 against Greenville this regular season.
Similar man-up mastery helped the ‘Blades to a 3-0 series sweep of Greenville in last year’s Kelly Cup Playoffs.
But through the first two games of this year’s ECHL Playoffs, the tables have turned. It has been Greenville holding the power play advantage. However the Everblades have used the Grrrowl power play against them. In the first two games of the series, a very high number of penalties have been called. The Blades have had 13 extra-man situations, while Greenville has had 17.
Florida has just a single goal for their 13 power plays. While on their 17, Greenville has scored four goals… that’s the exact same number of goals the ‘Blades have scored shorthanded on those same 17 situations.
These four shorthanded goals are the single biggest reason the Everblades have a 2-0 series lead. Some might wonder if the Grrrowl might consider declining penalties when they’re called on the ‘Blades from here on out. For any hockey novices out there, no… that’s not allowed.
Reggie Berg scored two of the shorties, one in each game, each coming through fantastic individual effort. They’ve helped Berg climb atop the Everblades franchise playoff scoring list.
The Everblades even found a way to turn Game 2 on a very strange man-advantage situation. With less than three minutes to go in the second period, and Florida clinging to a 2-1 lead... the Everblades had two men in the penalty box, while Greenville had one. Each team had a man in the box on coincidental minors… so the ‘Blades were skating shorthanded 4-on-3. Just as the coincidental were set to expire, ‘Blades goalie Phil Osaer made a spectacular save flicking his left skate out at the last moment, blocking the would-be tying goal for Greenville. The rebound bounced back in front of the net, right onto the backhand-side of Ryan Brindley’s stick. While there’s no way to know for sure if Brindley was just trying to clear the puck, or if he actually saw Matt Bannan exiting the penalty box… either way, Brindley lobbed the puck into the air, out of the defensive zone, and right to Bannan. The Grrrowl defender who was coming out of the box at the same time was already step behind Bannan as he entered the zone. Bannan made a quick deke, and buried the puck for his first professional goal… giving the ‘Blades a 3-1 lead and a stranglehold on the game’s momentum.
There’s an old saying that says, “The harder you work, the luckier you get.” This one play demonstrated how true that saying is… and just might sum up the identity of the Everblades. Shorthanded, under attack, and desperately trying to hang on to the end of the period with a one-goal lead… a rapid-fire series of great plays turned everything around, and allowed the Blades to push Greenville to the brink of elimination.
As the playoffs progress and the ‘Blades march on, other key elements will eventually emerge. Phil Osaer has been superb, but it’s still very early in the long journey to the Kelly Cup. Injuries could flare up, but the same could be said for current and future Everblades opponents as well.
But if the ‘Blades can get their power play to click… and the penalty kill keeps not only preventing opponents goals, but scoring their own… the Blades should be in terrific shape. The way penalties have been called in the playoffs so far, special teams could overcome any hot goalie or injury’s impact on the Everblades run to the Finals.
-Chris Long, NBC2 Sports
Feel free to e-mail any comments, questions or suggestions you might have to Chris.
EVERBLADES PLAYOFF RECAP:
DIVISION QUARTERFINAL: Everblades had bye
DIVISION SEMIFINAL: Everblades lead Greenville 2-0 in Best of 7.
Game 3: Friday @ Greenville
Game 4 (if necessary): Saturday @ Grenville
Game 5 (if necessary): Sunday @ Germain Arena, Estero
Just in case some of you aren’t following along with the rest of the playoff outside of the ‘Blades-Grrrowl series… here’s a quick update:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ROUND ONE (complete):
-Defending Kelly Cup Champion Trenton was defeated by Johnstown in the first round, 2 games to 0
-South Carolina defeated Charlotte 2 games to 1.
-Greenville defeated Augusta 2-1, which moved Greenville into the Division Semifinal against Florida.
ROUND TWO:
-Toledo leads Johnstown 2-0 (3-2, 4-1). Game 3 is Wednesday.
-Wheeling leads Reading 2-1 (3-2OT, 1-4, 4-3). Game 4 is Wednesday.
-Gwinnett leads South Carolina 2-0 (5-3, 5-4OT). Game 3 is Wednesday. If the Everblades advance past Greenville, they will play the winner of this series.
***Note, all three Eastern Conference series’ except for Florida-Greenville can end tonight.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ROUND ONE:
-Fresno has swept San Diego 4 games to 0 (4-3OT, 4-3, 2-1OT, 5-1).
-Long Beach and Bakersfield are tied 2-2 (BAK won Gm 1 and 3, LB won 2 and 4). The winner of this series will play Fresno. Game 5 is Wednesday.
-Alaska has swept Utah 4 games to 0 (4-1, 3-1, 4-1, 6-2).
-In the most exciting series of the round, Las Vegas and Idaho are tied 3-3.:
=Idaho won Game 1 2-1 in 2 OT’s.
=Idaho then won Game 4-2.
=Idaho led Game 3 by two goals with just a few minutes to go, but Las Vegas scored
twice to tie then won 5-4 in overtime.
=Idaho won Game 4 4-2, pushing Las Vegas to the brink of elimination.
=Needing a win on the road to stay alive, Las Vegas won Game 5 5-2.
=Returning home for Game 6, Las Vegas again avoided elimination with a
6-0 blowout win.
=Game 7 is Wednesday. The winner will play Alaska in Round Two.
2005-06 EVERBLADES PLAYOFF NUMBERS
Overall Record 2-0
Home Record 2-0
Road Record 0-0
Overtime Record 1-0
Power Play 1-13 (16th)
Penalty Kill 13-17 (19th)
Leading Scorers
Reggie Berg 2-1-3
Kevin Estrada 1-2-3
Drew Larman 1-2-3
Ryan Brindley 0-3-3
Paul Cabana 2-0-2
Leading Goaltenders
Phil Osaer 2.75 GAA, 2-0
Plus/Minus Leaders
Ryan Brindley +5
Kevin Estrada +3
Drew Larman +3
Tyson Telplitsky +3
