BLADES AND ICEMEN SET FOR BACK-TO-BACK GAMES TONIGHT AFTER 3-2 WIN

ESTERO, Fla. – After a back-and-forth five-goal second period led to a 3-2 victory for the Florida Everblades over the Jacksonville Icemen, the teams are set to face off again tonight in game two of their three-game series.

After a scoreless first period, the action began just 32 seconds into the second frame when Oliver Chau wrapped around Icemen goaltender Matt Vernon and slipped the puck through the five-hole, putting the Blades on the board first. The lead was short-lived, however, as Jacksonville answered at 5:24 with a rebound goal to level the score at 1-1.

The Everblades regained dominance midway through the period after a classic triangle formation led to a Jesse Lansdell redirection off a feed Kyle Betts and Jordan Sambrook to skew the scoreboard again. Minutes later, Icemen forward Chris Grando took a page from Chau's playbook, executing a wraparound behind Cam Johnson and setting up Christopher Brown in the slot to level the four-goal contest at the 11:24 mark. 

Ending the way he started, Chau found space in the crease and chipped in a pass from Kade Landry, scoring his second of the night and what would stand as the game-winner with less than three minutes to go before the second intermission. 

The Blades held firm in the final period, limiting the Icemen to nine shot attempts, all turned away by goaltender Cam Johnson, who finished the night allowing just two goals on 29 shots. Meanwhile, Vernon allowed three goals on 28 shots to give way to Florida. 

The two teams are set to face off tonight, Friday, December 6, for a 7 p.m. puck drop in Jacksonville, before heading back to The Swamp tomorrow, Saturday, December 7, for another 7 p.m. puck drop in their third consecutive matchup following their five-game road series. 

Thursday Night's Scoresheet. 

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