ECHL hockey: Everblades beat Stingrays to tie series 1-1

ESTERO — Mitchell Heard is becoming something of a folk hero at Germain Arena, and he's attained that status with his fists.

In a spirited game that saw 31 penalties for 106 minutes, the Florida Everblades defeated the South Carolina Stingrays 5-2 on Saturday night in the South Division Finals of the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs. The best-of-seven series is now even at 1-1.

"I'm just trying to do whatever it takes to win," Heard said. "It's a must-win situation at home after dropping Game 1."

The Everblades will now hit the road for three games in North Charleston, South Carolina. Game 3 of the series is Monday night at 7:05.

ECHL hockey: Stingrays beat Blades in 2 OT in Game 1

Levko Koper scored his first career hat trick to earn the first star of the game and Alex Nedeljkovic won his first career postseason game to get the third. But it was Heard who earned "the chain," an 18-link chain with an alligator head that is bestowed in the locker room on the team's hardest worker. He earned it in part for a fight right at the beginning of the game.

"He showed a lot of heart," Everblades coach Brad Ralph said. "It's not an easy thing to do, and he's doing that for our team. I have a lot of respect for him."

It took exactly one second for the gloves to drop and the penalty box to open itself to new tenants. As the lineman dropped the opening face-off, a fight broke out between Heard, who had been suspended three games earlier in the postseason for his involvement in a brawl at Orlando, and South Carolina forward Domenic Monardo, who scored the game-winning goal in double-overtime the night before.

"I was just trying to spark the boys after going down one (game) on home ice, and it looks like it paid off," Heard said.

At least it started that way. The two waited for the puck to drop (fighting before the game starts is an automatic fine), and once they started throwing punches, other tussles broke out and it became a minor line brawl. When things settled down, three Stingrays and two Everblades were in the box, and Heard's two-minute penalty for instigating gave South Carolina a power play.

It was just the spark that the Everblades needed. After killing the penalty, the Everblades brought the puck down into the South Carolina zone. Stephen MacAulay took a shot and the rebound went loose in front of the crease. Matt Hatch lurched, sliding to his knees, reached for the puck and swiped it in for his first goal of the postseason.

A few minutes later, Koper had the puck at the top of the crease, turned around and scored. It was Koper again after that, this time rushing with a head of steam on a two-on-one. He hesitated for a moment as he approached the net, then let loose with a top-shelf shot for his second goal of the night to make it 3-0.

"He's such a smart player and he puts himself in the right position," Ralph said. "His linemates are doing what they've got to do as well. That line is really coming together at the right time."

The third goal of the game was also the Everblades' third shot of the night, an eerie similarity to the night before, when their first two shots were goals.

And as they did the night before, the Stingrays mounted a comeback. On a power play, Steven McParland sent a pass to Andrew Cherniwchan. Using Florida defender Jake Baker as a screen to block goalie Alex Nedeljkovic's vision, Cherniwchan took a shot that hit Nedeljkovic's shoulder and bounced into the net, making it a 3-1 game.

In the second period, Olivier Archambault skated forward with the puck up the right side, then turned around and passed to Cherniwchan, who was skating forward in the center slot. Cherniwchan wristed the puck high and in, his second goal of the night making it 3-2.

"That second period, just like last night, was not our best period," Ralph said. "There were a lot of penalties and it really got us out of our flow, but our guys remounted after the second period and had a great third."

Early in the third period, the Everblades made good on their first power play. Matt Berry had the puck in the left face-off circle and sent a cross-ice pass to Brendan O'Donnell in the right circle. O'Donnell went right for the net and scored his ECHL-leading eighth goal of the postseason.

Koper earned his hat trick in the closing minutes of the game with an empty-netter, making it 5-2.

"I've had a few two-games, but it's really hard to get the third, so I'm happy about that," Koper said.

It was a big night for Nedeljkovic, who won his first career postseason game. He stopped 21 of 23 shots. After losing three games in the last series against Orlando, he earned his first career postseason victory.

"Ned played well in that series," Ralph said. "We didn't defend as well as we could in those losing efforts. He's been playing well since he's been here."

Mitchell and company took part in another brawl near the end of the game, and his fight with Marcus Perrier was the main event. Perrier managed to rip most of Heard's jersey off, but Heard ended up putting him down on the ice. He was pumping up the crowd on the way to the locker room.

EVERBLADES 5, STINGRAYS 2

South Carolina 1 1 0 - 2
Florida 3 0 2 - 5
1st Period-1, Florida, Hatch 1 (MacAulay, Berry), 2:28. 2, Florida, Koper 2 (Harris, Kirkpatrick), 2:53 (PP). 3, Florida, Koper 3 (Kirkpatrick, Roe), 5:45. 4, South Carolina, Cherniwchan 2 (McParland, Zajac), 17:19 (PP). Penalties-Cherniwchan Sc (roughing), 0:01; Flick Sc (roughing), 0:01; Monardo Sc (fighting - major), 0:01; Heard Fla (instigating, fighting - major), 0:01; Smith Fla (double - roughing), 0:01; Perrier Sc (tripping), 2:41; Epp Sc (slashing ), 7:52; Flick Sc (unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:14; Raine Fla (unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:14; Roe Fla (cross-checking), 16:57; Flick Sc (slashing ), 18:09; Heard Fla (slashing ), 18:09.
2nd Period-5, South Carolina, Cherniwchan 3 (Monardo), 6:57. Penalties-O'Donnell Fla (hooking), 2:29; Arnold Sc (holding), 4:05; Perrier Sc (tripping), 8:25; Cherniwchan Sc (slashing ), 8:42; Flick Sc (slashing ), 10:49; Berry Fla (slashing ), 18:46.
3rd Period-6, Florida, O'Donnell 8 (Berry), 3:06 (PP). 7, Florida, Koper 4   18:46 (EN). Penalties-Corbett Sc (holding the stick), 1:15; Berry Fla (elbowing), 5:43; Heard Fla (slashing ), 6:57; O'Donnell Fla (high-sticking), 14:51; Flick Sc (fighting - major), 18:52; Perrier Sc (fighting - major, game misconduct - abuse of officials), 18:52; Heard Fla (fighting - major), 18:52; Smith Fla (fighting - major), 18:52; Corbett Sc (unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:57; Cherniwchan Sc (misconduct - unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:52; MacAulay Fla (misconduct - unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:52.
Shots on Goal-South Carolina 8-6-9-23. Florida 8-10-5-23.
Power Play Opportunities-South Carolina 1 / 7; Florida 2 / 8.
Goalies-South Carolina, Milner (22 shots-18 saves). Florida, Nedeljkovic (23 shots-21 saves).
A-3,599
Referees-Mike Sheehan (11), Tyler Puddifant (28).
Linesmen-Billy Gubelman (36), Charlie O'Connor (43).

South Division Finals

Everblades vs. South Carolina Stingrays

Series tied 1-1

Game 1 -- South Carolina 3, Florida 2, 2 OT

Game 2 -- Florida 5, South Carolina 2

Game 3 -- Monday, May 1, at South Carolina, 7:05 p.m.

Game 4 -- Wednesday, May 3, at South Carolina, 7:05 p.m.

Game 5 -- If necessary, Thursday, May 4, at South Carolina, 7:05 p.m.

Game 6 -- If necessary, Saturday, May 6, Germain Arena, 7 p.m.

Game 7 -- If necessary, Monday, May 8, Germain Arena, 7:30 p.m.