GROUNDHOG DAY RUBBER GAME ON TAP IN O-TOWN

WHO: Florida Everblades vs. Orlando Solar Bears

WHERE: Kia Center (Orlando, Fla.)

WHEN: Sunday, February 2 at 3:00 p.m. 

BROADCAST: Watch every Florida Everblades game on FloHockey.TV. Listen to the exciting game action on ESPN Southwest Florida on 770 AM, 98.1 FM, 104.3 FM and online at https://espnswfl.com. 

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ESTERO, Fla. – Less than 24 hours after the Orlando Solar Bears exacted revenge on the Florida Everblades – a 4-3 overtime winner Friday night in Hertz Arena – with a 2-1 overtime victory of their own Saturday at Kia Center, the bitter ECHL South Division rivals will meet in the rubber game of a three-game set for Sunday afternoon in downtown Orlando. The matinee puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

Saturday’s contest saw the good guys jump out to a 1-0 lead as Tarun Fizer gave the Everblades the advantage just four minutes into the game. Unfortunately for the Everblades, Orlando goaltender Alexis Gravel kept the puck out of the net the rest of the evening. A second-period goal by Brayden Low and an overtime tally by Aaron Luchuk gave Orlando a 2-1 OT win at Kia Center.

While the Everblades still hold a comfortable 7-2-2-0 edge in the season series, each of the last four games against the Solar Bears have gone to overtime, with each team picking up a pair of wins. The Blades enter Sunday’s tilt having earned points in each of the last seven games – 12 of a possible 14 points to be exact – and still sport an ECHL-best 63 points in the league standings. 

First-place Florida (29-8-4-1) still leads the South Division by five points, while Orlando (23-18-7-0) sits in fourth place having played six more games than the Everblades. After Sunday’s rubber match, the Blades and Bears will meet just once more in the regular season, March 15 in Orlando.

Ben Brar continues to lead the Everblades with three goals in the season series versus Orlando, despite playing in just nine of 11 games. Carson Gicewicz (2G, 4A) and Colin Theisen (1G, 5A) both have a team-high six points against the Solar Bears. In goal, Cam Johnson is a spotless 6-0 in six games against the Bears just season, sporting a stellar 1.31 GAA to go with a sparkling .940 save percentage.

The Everblades will be back at Hertz Arena on Wednesday, February 5 to open a three-game set versus the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. The 7:30 p.m. midweek tilt will feature the latest Hump Day Deal, offering fans $3 hot dogs, $3 Bud Lights and $3 Labatt Blues. Greenville will remain in town for games on Friday, February 8 and Saturday, February 8, at 7:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively. Visit http://www.floridaeverblades.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

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Season ticket plans for the 2024-25 campaign are on sale now! Become a Blades 365 Member for the 2024-25 season and enjoy incredible savings and benefits! To view the Blades 365 Membership savings, benefits, and options click HERE. 

Group Packages are available for a group of 10 or more! Everblades put FUN in FUNdraising! There is no handling of money or tickets and no limit to the amount of money your group can make with the Everblades' easy-to-run online Fundraiser! For more information, or to reserve a Fundraiser Night at an Everblades regular-season home game, call or text (239) 948-7825.

Grab the newest and hottest Everblades merchandise by checking out the entire collection that is available online by visiting shop.floridaeverblades.com or at the Hertz Arena Pro Shop!

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Watch every Florida Everblades game on FloHockey.TV. Listen to the exciting game action on ESPN Southwest Florida on 770 AM, 98.1 FM, 104.3 FM, or online at espnswfl.com. Stay up to date by following the Blades on social media with all the latest news, scores, and promotions on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and Twitter.