Game Day: Everblades Look To Remain Unbeaten, Allen Still Looking For First Win

Halloween Eve means hockey, as the ECHL features six games on Tuesday’s schedule.

The Florida Everblades (3-0-0) travel to Atlanta to face the Gladiators (2-2-0). The 2-1-1 Orlando Solar Bears are at Savannah (2-1-0) to play the Ghost Pirates.

The Trois-Rivieres Lions (0-2-1) play host to the 4-1-0 Reading Royals, while Worcester travels to Norfolk to play the Admirals, with both teams sporting 2-2-0 records.

Rounding out Tuesday’s slate: The 1-2-1 Bloomington Bison play at the 1-2-1 Iowa Heartlanders, and the 2-2-0 Wichita Thunder travel to Texas for a matchup against the Allen Americans (0-3-0).

Here’s a look at each of the matchups.

Puck Drop: 7:00 Pm ET

The defending Kelly Cup Champion Everblades are off to their best start since the 2020-21 season.

Tuesday marks the third straight meeting between the two teams, with the Blades sweeping the previous two games last weekend in Estero, 3-1 and 6-0.

Florida’s Colton Hargrove has four points (1-3-4) in his last two games. Goaltender Will Cranley recorded the first shutout of his career in the 6-0 victory.

Cody Sylvester is the Gladiators’ scoring leader with five points. After posting back-to-back shutouts on Opening Weekend over the Indy Fuel, Atlanta found the going much tougher last weekend in Florida, managing just two goals over the two games.

It’s also Scooby-Doo Night at Gas South Arena, and fans are encouraged to dress in their Scooby best. They also have a chance to win their favorite Gladiators’ authentic game-worn jersey from the game.

Puck Drop: 7:00 Pm ET

The Solar Bears’ Tyler Bird is on a roll with five goals, tying him for the league lead. He set a new all-time team record with 77 goals in last Saturday’s game against the Ghost Pirates.

Through three games, the Ghost Pirates are a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty-kill. They also scored on both power-play opportunities they took in last Sunday’s 5-2 win over Orlando.

Puck Drop: 7 Pm ET

These two teams are headed in opposite directions through the first two weeks of the season. Reading is beginning a four-game road trip that starts with two games in Trois-Rivieres, followed by back-to-back contests in Maine against the Mariners.

Reading finds itself atop the North Division and the Eastern Conference at 4-1-0, while the Lions are still looking for their first win of the season. The Royals took a 3-2 victory at Trois-Rivieres in the season opener Oct. 18. Connor McMenamin tallied the game-winner for his first goal as a pro, while goalie Parker Gahagen saved 19 of the 21 shots he faced.

Lions defenseman Brycen Martin leads the team in points (3) and is tied with forwards Xavier Cormier, Morgan Adams-Moisan, Anthony Beauchamp and Jakov Novak for the team lead in goals (1).

Puck Drop: 7:05 Pm ET

The Railers seem to turn up the heat in the third period, having outshot their opponents 32-20 in that frame. The 20 shots allowed are the fewest in the ECHL in the third period.

Worcester won both their games last weekend on the road at Trois-Rivieres and Maine. They continue their road swing at Norfolk for games Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Matthew Kopperud was a +5 last weekend and scored two goals for the Railers, while Justin Gill picked up the first three points of his pro career including the game-winner last Sunday.

Norfolk swept the Maine Mariners last weekend, winning 6-3 on Friday and 3-1 on Sunday. The Admirals scored early with four in the first frame on Friday, with a much tighter outcome on Sunday.

The first period is the Admirals’ strongest thus far, as they have outscored their opponents 6-1 during the frame.

Carson Golder had a goal and an assist in last Friday’s game against the Mariners, and is tied for third in the league with 19 shots on goal.

Puck Drop: 7:00 Pm CT

The Bison are looking for revenge against Iowa, who dropped them 5-4 in overtime last Saturday for its first win of the season.

After briefly being reassigned to the AHL’s Chicago Wolves last week, Bison defenseman Bryce Montgomery was assigned back to Bloomington on Tuesday. Montgomery has the distinction of scoring the Bison’s first goal in franchise history Oct. 20 against the Toledo Walleye.

Bloomington’s Case McCarthy is tied for first among rookies with two power-play goals. The Bison have outscored opponents 5-2 in the third period.

Heartlanders netminder William Rousseau had 36 saves in his team’s win over Bloomington and is second in the ECHL among goalies with 144 saves. Iowa has been battle-tested through their four games, with three being decided by one goal.

Matthew Sop leads the Heartlanders with six points, including three goals.

Puck Drop: 7:10 Pm CT.

Wichita swept both their games last weekend against Tulsa. Forward Michal Stinil was named ECHL Player of the Week after racking up seven points last weekend. Stinil leads the team in goals (5), assists (5) and is tied for the lead in plus/minus (+7).

The Thunder are getting points from their back end as well as up front. Defenseman Jeremie Bucheler is tied for fourth among league blueliners with a goal and three assists for four points.

Nine of Wichita’s 17 goals this season have come in the second period.

It’s been a rough start for the Americans, who have scored their only two goals of the season in the third period while surrendering 21. They have yet to score a goal on home ice.

Allen’s power play has struggled, going just 1-for-9 on the season (11.1%).