Florida Defeats Glads 4-1

The visiting Florida Everblades struck first 9:51 into the opening frame of Thursday’s game against the Gladiators. Rob Florentino took a slap shot from the right point that deflected off Jon DiSalvatore and found its way into the back of the net. The Florida assistant captain was credited with his seventh goal of the year on the play, while Florentino notched his fourth assist and Kevin Montgomery got the secondary helper.Patrick D'Amico tied the game at one for Atlanta at the 13:31 mark of the first period. The Gladiators rookie received the puck at center ice after Joe Stesjkal put a crushing hit on the Everblades forward to knock the puck loose. D'Amico brought the puck into his offensive zone and sent a wrister off Florida goaltender, Rasmus Tirronen, and into the net. The score marks the former Regina Pats' 13th of the year, with Tyler Murovich receiving his 15th assist on the season.Florida retook the lead with 4:20 left in the second period. Carter Sandlak created a 3-on-2 opportunity for the Everblades by passing across the ice to Brendan O'Donnell. From the right side, the forward cut across the face of Gladiators goaltender, Matt Ginn, and slotted the puck into the left side of the net to give Florida the 2-1 lead. Sandlak picked up his sixth assist of the year on O'Donnell's fifth tally of the season.The Everblades increased their lead at the 6:17 mark of the third period. An initial Kevin Lynch shot on goal rebounded off the pad of Ginn, but slid to O'Donnell at the top of the crease who tucked it past the diving goaltender. The Winnipeg, MB native notched his second goal of the game while Lynch recorded the primary assist. Logan Roe picked up his 11th point of the year on the secondary helper.Florida struck again to take a 4-1 lead with 13:21 left in the third frame. O'Donnell passed to an open Lynch just beyond the right circle. The University of Michigan product then blasted a shot over the right shoulder of Ginn for his 15th goal of the season. O'Donnell registered his third point of the night with the primary helper and Sandlak received his 10th point of the season on the secondary assist.After falling to the Everblades in the final game of the homestand, Atlanta dropped to 29-23-5-2 with 65 points, placing them in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Florida increased their division lead with the win and improved to 37-19-0-2 giving them third place in the Eastern Conference with 76 points.