ESTERO, Fla. � Florida�s Matt Hendricks scored twice to ignite a four-goal second period, giving the Everblades a 5-4 comeback victory over the Mississippi Sea Wolves in front of 4,635 at Germain Arena in preseason action.
�I saw some good and bad,� Mississippi general manager and coach Bob Woods said. �We definitely have some areas that we need to work on, especially in the defensive zone. Lucas Drake played well (scoring two goals and adding an assist) and Jason Wolfe was good in net (allowing one goal on 14 shots). We have one game situation left to look at some guys (tomorrow at Florida) in preseason action.�
Mississippi's Drake opened the score at 2:50 of the first period by beating Everblades goaltender Rob Zepp, who played the entire game turning away 21 shots. Andy Johnson had the lone assist.
Just 50 seconds later, Bobby Cunningham gave the Sea Wolves a 2-0 lead. Mike Jarmuth and Louis Dumont picked up the helpers.
Drake went back to work on the power play and deposited his second of the game at 14:57 to stake Mississippi to a 3-0 advantage. Lee Jacobson drew an assist and Johnson garnered his second helper of the contest.
Tom Reimann started the Florida rally at 15:32 of the first, getting the puck past Sea Wolves goaltender Brian Gallagher, who made 15 saves. Chris Hodgson had the only helper.
Everblades poured it on in the middle stanza. Hendricks scored the first of two goals at the 1:50 mark, assisted by Keith Anderson.
Hendricks potted his second of the contest at 4:24 to tie the score at 3-3. Reimann and Anderson had the helpers.
The Everblades went ahead 1:18 later on a Jim Abbott tally, assisted by David Lundbohm and Brandon Coalter.
With 20 seconds to go in the second, Damian Surma scored the eventual game-winner getting the puck by Wolfe. Reggie Berg and Brad Church registered helpers.
Sea Wolves� Tristan Lush netted the only goal of the third with assists going to Patrick Rochon and Drake.
Mississippi converted on 1-of-6 power play chances, while Florida failed to capitalize on six man advantages. Everblades outshot the Sea Wolves 33-25.
Additional notes: There were four fights in the game. Mississippi's Lee Jacobson fought Cody Doucette, Sea Wolves' Tyler Bellamy squared off with Chris Hodgson, Mississippi's Chris Cava dueled Matt Hendricks and Sea Wolves' Austin Miller dropped the gloves with Tim O'Connell ... Mississippi players that did not dress were Randy Hevey, Jeff Hutchins, Jason Kean, Jay Legault, Mike Martone and Milt Mastad � Florida players not in the lineup included Ernie Hartlieb, Greg Hornby, Craig Kowalski, Brent McDonald and Jared Newman.
The Sea Wolves and Everblades complete their preseason action with another game tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. CT at Germain Arena. There is no preseason broadcast.
Mississippi opens its ninth ECHL season with two games next weekend. The puck drops at 7:35 p.m. on Friday, October 22 against the Louisiana IceGators at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. It�s 2-for-1 Military, sponsored by Keesler Federal Credit Union. Fans are asked to bring �Care Package Items� to be delivered to the troops in Iraq. Each fan that brings an item will receive a free voucher to a future Sea Wolves game.
At 7:35 p.m. on Saturday, October 23, the Sea Wolves host the Pensacola Ice Pilots at the Wolves Den. The game promotion consists of $2 hotdogs and $2 drafts from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Individual tickets for the opening weekend games can be purchased at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (228) 594-3707 and online at ticketmaster.com.
Season ticket packages are on sale by calling (228) 275-WOLF or online at msseawolves.com. Flex packs and group tickets are also available.
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