The Eels got on the score board first and never looked back as they hand the Jr Blades their 6th loss of the season while earning their own 8th win of the young season.

It was a scoreless first period as both teams were feeling one another out. The Eels did dominate zone time in period one but the score remained 0-0

Then the Eels struck first  4 minutes into the second period capitalizing on a power play opportunity. scoring as follows: Mikhail Melikov (6) ASST: Ryan Goral (7), Adam Burtzlaff (11) (PP)

Then the Eels struck again 1t the 1/2 way mark of the 2nd period as they find the back of the Jr Blades net scoring as follows: Gavin Medina (3) ASST: Clement Espinasse (3), Pavel Timochko (3)

The Blades came back at with only 2 minutes left in the 2nd period  taking advantage of a short handed goal when the Eels were on a power play and were bit by an Eel turn over Scoring went as follows: Cole Horvath (1) ASST: None (SH)

The Eels went into the 3rd period 2-1 still in the lead. The Eels somewhat disappointed as they failed to capitalize on the power play opportunity and allowed a short handed one at that.

In the 3rd a re-focused Eels team broadened the lead to 3-1 with a pretty goal to give them a little day light with the lead. Scoring  was as follows: Easton Moore (4) ASST: Mikhail Melikov (2), Matthew Clift (6)

But the Jr Blades would not go away and kept coming and they found the back of the Eels net for the 2nd time tonight narrowing the Eels lead to 3-2. Scoring was as follows: Mathis Legros (4) ASST: Xavier Legros (4)

The Eels managed to maintain that 1 goal cushion despite the Jr Blades pulling their goalie with a little over a minute to play. The Eels pounded 48 shots on the Jr Blades net minder while the Blades fired 20+ at the Eels goalie Andrew Van Ooteghem,

This was a very hard fought battle by both squads. The two teams went right up to the final horn.

The Eels moved up to the #2 spot over all in the USPHL Elite Division in the rankings. The Eels now have 17 points in the Florida Division holding the #1 spot in the standings. The Jr Blades are # 2 in the Florida Division with 6 points. The problem for the Jr Blades is that there are only 4 points that separate the other clubs in the Florida Division. For example, the Tampa Juniors are in last place but they have 4 points. They play the Atlanta Madhatters who have 5 points. If Tampa sweeps Atlanta in their games this weekend, Tampa could move from last place to 2nd over all and push the Blades down considerably. This is a huge weekend for the Florida Division considering Charleston is playing the Charlotte Rush this weekend.

The Eels have one goal in mind sleep tonight a double session of ice on Friday meaning 3 hours of practice and preparing for Saturday’s game. That is their focus. Win the game on Saturday. Sweep the weekend. And let the games being played by the other teams in the Florida Division take their course. In other words worry about what they can control and not worry about what is out of their control