ESTERO, FLA – The Florida Everblades (23-8-0-2) kept the South Carolina Stingrays (12-12-6-2) goalless in their 4-0 victory Friday night at Hertz Arena. Jake Hildebrand stopped all 29 Stingrays shots to win his first shutout of the season. Michael Huntebrinker scored two goals and an assist in the effort of victory, and Florida’s power game broke out by two goals.
FIRST STAR: Jake Hildebrand (FLA) – 29 rescues, shutdown
SECOND STAR: Michael Huntebrinker (FLA) – two goals, one assist, four shots
THIRD STAR: Colby Sissons (FLA) – one goal, two assists, five shots
The game remained goalless until the second period, when Florida took the lead in the competition. After maintaining strong pressure in the strength game, the specialized unit Everblades broke when Colby Sissons fired a wrist shot under the arm of Stingrays goalkeeper Hunter Shepard at 13:14.
Sissons’ powerful game goal broke a difficult skid in the man advantage for the Everblades. Florida had not scored in power play since February 26 against South Carolina and won 0 out of the last 13 points until Sissons found the bottom of the net.
Levko Koper scored again for the Everblades, about five minutes after the third period. Striker Joe Pendenza centered the puck on the wall, and Koper finished the lead ahead for his tenth season count at 5:01.
Huntebrinker gave two goals and an assist for Florida’s victory. The explosive wing was facing its longest period of offensive drought of the season, entering Friday’s game with no points in its last five games.
In the third period with Florida in a power game, Huntebrinker got a rebound to put the Everblades 3-0 at the 15:50 mark. As soon as the dam broke for Huntebrinker, the goals kept coming. The striker added his second count by hitting a floating disk in the air to give the Everblades a 4-0 lead at the end of the third.
Florida goalkeeper Hildebrand made 29 saves to register his first shutout of the season. The netminder now has seven shutouts as a pro.
The first respondents’ weekend continues when Florida meets Orlando Solar Bears (17-10-3-0) on Saturday, March 13 at 7 pm at Hertz Arena. Enjoy the open-air party on Saturday, with free live music from the 3 Hour Tour from 5 pm to 7 pm outside the Hertz Arena.
We continue to honor all the first respondents who worked tirelessly, especially during the pandemic, on the first respondents’ weekend hosted by Cape Coral Firefighters and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The Everblades will return to wearing special T-shirts for first responders on Saturday, and the proceeds from the T-shirt auction will be donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews