Game 16

Today's matchup between the Florida Jr. Everblades and the Palm Beach Breakers got off to a slow start, as neither team was able to do anything with their chances. The only highlights from this period were the penalties which, for a change, went in the Everblades favor by a 2-1 margin. The second period was very similar to the first, with penalty calls dominating once again, 2-1 in favor of the Everblades once more. It was the final penalty of the period that gave the Everblades the chance that they needed, as they were able to tap in a loose puck on the power play to grab a 1-0 lead with a little over a minute remaining in the period.

The third period was one that I have never quite seen before, as the Everblades once again made the best of the man advantage, scoring a power play goal on a slap shot three and a half minutes into the final stanza, giving them a 2-0 lead. The Everblades took a penalty of their own at the nine minute mark, and at that point the Breakers net was empty. This is an unusual time to put the goalie, but I assumed that the Breakers were desperate for a win (we heard that they needed to win to make the state playoffs, but I don't know how true this is). Unfortunately for them, it was the Everblades who score while down 4 men to 6, making it a 3-0 game. The Breakers were able to take advantage of having two extra men on the ice, as they caught a break (no pun intended) when the puck bounced off the side of the net and they were able to follow up and tap it past the Everblades goalie, making it a 3-1 game. The Breakers goalie never returned to the net, and was not even on the bench any longer, and the Everblades were able to find the back of the empty net two more times to ice the game away. It ended in a 5-1 victory for the Everblades. I heard later that the Breakers goalie was sick and ended up going home, so I give him credit for battling as long as he did...

14UA Florida Jr. Everblades Game #16 - at Palm Beach Breakers
	Drew moving across the crease as the Breakers play the puck.
	Drew skating down the ice towards the action.
	Drew circling around towards the puck.
	Drew lined up during a faceoff.
	Drew making a turn near center ice.
	Drew winding up for a shot near the blue line...
	...but not getting all he wanted on the shot.
	Drew trying to move the Breakers player off of the puck.
	Drew on the ice for a center-ice faceoff...
	...before going after the puck...
	...and gaining control of it...
	...and turning back up the ice.
	Drew eying the empty net from the blue line.
	Drew challenging for the puck along the boards.
	Drew and a teammate trying to pick up a loose puck.
	Drew trying to get his stick on a flying puck.
	The final score was a positive one for the Everblades, coming out on top by a 5-1 score.
	Drew and his Everblades teammates listening to their coach after the victory.
	Drew and his teammates making their way through the postgame handshake line.

14UA Florida Jr. Everblades Game #16 - at Palm Beach Breakers

Drew moving across the crease as the Breakers play the puck.

Drew skating down the ice towards the action.

Drew circling around towards the puck.

Drew lined up during a faceoff.

Drew making a turn near center ice.

Drew winding up for a shot near the blue line...

...but not getting all he wanted on the shot.

Drew trying to move the Breakers player off of the puck.

Drew on the ice for a center-ice faceoff...

...before going after the puck...

...and gaining control of it...

...and turning back up the ice.

Drew eying the empty net from the blue line.

Drew challenging for the puck along the boards.

Drew and a teammate trying to pick up a loose puck.

Drew trying to get his stick on a flying puck.

The final score was a positive one for the Everblades, coming out on top by a 5-1 score.

Drew and his Everblades teammates listening to their coach after the victory.

Drew and his teammates making their way through the postgame handshake line.