Then the Eels The Florida Eels Premier Team Sweep The Tampa Juniors In Weekend Home and Away Series. 

 

The Premier team had one of the most dramatic games this season last Friday in Tampa. I don’t think we saw or will see another nail biter like that all season. OMG, I don’t think anyone can take it from a spectator. Leads exchanging. OT shoot out and Sudden death. The drama leading up to it. No doubt the Eel shad the pressure as DME had won that night and the Eels needed the win in order to remained tied for first place. Well we were all elated that the Eels came out on top of that one. At this time of the year all 4 teams in the Florida Division are playing very good hockey. The pressure is there and each coach and players know they have to hone in and elevate their game as all teams will make the playoffs and every team has a fair shot of advancing to Boston and compete in the Nationals.

 

Well this is why Sunday’s games were even more important. Then we got word that down in Estero the Jr Blades upset DME. Well now was a perfect opportunity for the Eels to re-gain some daylight and gain 2 points on DME and take sole possession of 1stplace. However, the task at hand wouldn’t be so easy. Tampa is playing their best hockey and took the Eels to a 6 round shoot out on Friday so we had our homework ahead of us. Tampa won’t quit nor go away. They are fierce competitors and have some quality guys.

 

Tampa scored 1stin the 1stperiod and then again in the 2nd. The Eels were down by 2 and things were not looking all that promising. Tampa had stepped up their fore-check and were forcing the play.

 

Then the Eels got on the board:

 

 

Demeed Podrezov (23) ASST: Nikita Pinimyasov (30), Jared Figueroa (19)

Colton Crabtree (12) ASST: Jean-Simon Robidoux (11), Jace Lis-D’Alessandro (13)

Demeed Podrezov (24) ASST: Jean-Simon Robidoux (12), Filip Skorec (15) (PP)

Tampa tied things up to make it 3-3 and with less than 3 minutes to go the Eels put it away with a huge goal and we were 4 on 4. Nikita Pinimyasov (23) ASST: Jace Lis-D’Alessandro (14), Filip Skorec (16)

 

In goal for the Eels was Danick Francoeur  who turned away 34 of 37 shots on net. A solid performance under enormous pressure.

 

This was the second straight night that the Eels Premier team made a solid come back down by 2 goals and they showed tremendous resolve and tenacity not to quit. This is a veteran cast and they have incredible character and maturity. They don’t panic when many teams would buckle. It is so much fun to coach and watch these young men on the ice says Coach Frankie Scarpaci