The Florida Jr. Blades Elite team skates away with a 4-3 win late in the third period over the Charlotte Rush. Despite completely dominating the game, the Rush goaltending was bad, while Florida got the goaltending they needed to come away with the win. Blake Moore stopped 48 of the 51 shots he saw throughout the game, while Rush goaltender, Nicholas Grosso, allowed four goals on just 15 shots.
Caleb Rae was outstanding for the Jr. Blades, tallying two goals and an assist, which included the game-tying and game-winning goals.
First Period
40 seconds into the opening frame, the Jr. Blades gave Charlotte it’s first powerplay chance as Tristan Hatto would be called for high-sticking. Despite taking an early penalty, Florida struck first at 1:36 as Florida’s Vincent Faggioli-Delong threw a puck out in front of the net, and bounced off Grosso and into the back of the net.
At 2:11, Charlotte responded with a powerplay tally. After receiving a pass from John Attardo, Viktor Pettersson, with the help of a perfectly timed toe drag, was able to get off a perfectly placed shot over the left shoulder of Moore.
At 13:16, Charlotte took the lead off Darren Freeman’s third goal of the season. Behind the net with the puck, Mark Tagg would find Freeman all alone in front, and dish him a pass right onto the tape. Freeman took a quick shot directly in front of the cage, and was able to get the puck to squeak through the body and blocker of Moore. With 2:55 to go, Charlotte added another tally as Attardo picked up his second point of the period. A D-to-D pass with a shot from Ashton Lesher would find it’s way into the corner. Aaron Confer would fine the puck, and throw it out front as it would bounce off Moore and land right on the tape of Attardo, who had no trouble shoveling it underneath the left pad of Moore.
With 50 seconds to go in the opening frame, Moore came up with two huge saves. The first a shot from Tagg which would rebound off Moore’s left pad, and lay out in front of goal. On the rebound, Adam Wiley would find the loose puck, and try shoveling it over the shoulder of Moore, but to no avail.
A dominant period by the Rush saw them take a 3-1 lead into the middle frame, off the back of a 24-4 shot advantage. Charlotte scored on their only powerplay opporunity of the period, with Florida’s lone goal coming shorthanded.
Second Period
At 5:22 of the second period, the Jr. Blades got their first chance on the powerplay as Aiboluly Temirlan would be called for slashing. 35 seconds into the powerplay, the Jr. Blades pulled to within one as a pass by Caleb Rae was prefectly placed into the wheelhouse of Cooper Christensen. Christensen released a one-time shot that went over the left shoulder of Grosso.
At 7:10, Florida went back on the penalty kill as Landen Button was called for interference. Florida was able to keep Charlotte from converting on the powerplay, but it was still all Rush who completely outworked Florida all over the ice. Through two periods, the Rush were up 3-2, outshooting the Jr. Blades 15-4 in the period, and 39-8 for the game.
The Jr. Blades scored on their only powerplay opportunity in the period, while the Rush went 0-for-1 in the period.
Third Period
Just 39 seconds into the third period, the Jr. Blades had tied the game thanks to a beautiful deke by Caleb Rae. After picking a Charlotte player’s pocket, Rae went one-on-one with Grosso, and made it look easy as Rae went forehand to backhand and into the back of the net.
After a strong push by the Rush in the final eight minutes of the game, the Jr. Blades took a 4-3 lead with 28.1 seconds to go. A beautiful shot through the legs as a screen by Rae put the Blades within reach of pulling out the upset. Needing a goal to tie the game, the Rush pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. Outstanding saves by Moore and blocks by all five guys on the ice for Florida secured them the win and the upset over the Rush.
With the only powerplay in the period, Florida went 0-for-1. They were outshot by a 12-7 margin, but solid defense and goaltending was the difference to end the game.
