Estero, FL – The Florida Everblades defeated the Atlanta Gladiators 5-1 on Friday night at Hertz Arena, taking the final game of the three-game slate in South Florida. Florida leapt out to a 4-0 lead before taking the game by the final score of 5-1 to win its first game in the season series.

Winners on Wednesday, 2-0, and Friday, 5-4 in overtime, the Gladiators looked to do something they had never done in team history – sweep a three-game set at Hertz Arena. Playing in their fifth game in seven days, it was going to be a tough task, as Ethan Haider and Cam Johnson dueled between the pipes for their respective clubs.

Florida was ready to play off of the opening faceoff, outshooting Atlanta early. The Everblades scored on their second power play of the game with 5:16 left in the opening period, taking a 1-0 lead off of Anthony Romano’s 17^th goal of the season. Precise passing was finished at the top of the blue paint by Romano, and the Everblades led 1-0 after one period. Florida outshot Atlanta 13-5 after the first period.

The Everblades took full control of the game in the second period, scoring three times to extend their lead to 4-0 by the period’s end. First, Sean Allen scored on a shot from the left point 6:29 into the period to make it a 2-0 game. Then Jett Jones scored on a breakaway 7:25 into the period to make it 3-0. And a late power play goal on a tip in from Crag Needham added more salt to the wound with 41 seconds left in the second period to put Florida up 4-0. 

The Gladiators did break the shutout bid for Cam Johnson with a 4v4 goal scored by Mickey Burns 6:04 into the third. A rebound off of a Ryan Conroy shot hit Burns and went into the net for the score to make it 4-1. Burns’ 5^th of the year was assisted by Conroy and Chad Nychuk. The Everblades scored again about two minutes later off of a 2 on 1 to make it 5-1, with Isaac Nurse scoring his 2^nd of the season. Florida went on to take the game by the final score of 5-1, with Johnson stopping 24/25 and Haider stopping 27/32. Atlanta went 0/2 on the power play and 1/3 on the penalty kill and was outshot 32-25.

The Gladiators are off to Greensboro to take on the Gargoyles on February 3^rd in the final game of the seven-game road trip. It will be the Gladiators first trip to Greensboro since March 30 of 2004. Fans can tune in on FloHockey and YouTube with coverage on the Gladiators Broadcast Network beginning at 6:40 PM EST with puck drop set for 7:00 PM. 

Atlanta will host Florida for the rematch of this South Division rivalry on Wednesday, February 4, on College Night at Gas South Arena. Fans can get tickets at atlantagladiators.com and join the battle!