Everblades return to work after ECHL strike, pick up win over Orlando

A week ago, Logan Lambdin was sitting on 199 career ECHL games eager to come back after six months rehabbing off-season surgery. But instead of questions about finally returning to health, he was getting asked about the ECHL strike. As the team’s union representative, he was the point person to answer questions on behalf of the players.

But with a medical clearance and ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement on Tuesday, Dec. 30, minor-league hockey returned to Hertz Arena on Friday, Jan. 2, and Lambdin played his 200^th game. And it turned out to be a great return for the Blades (20-6-1-1), who beat the Orlando Solar Bears 3-2.“It was already a while coming,” Lambdin said. “It’s been six months post-surgery, so it’s nice to finally get back to it, whether it was right after break the way it was supposed to be, or whether it was now, I was looking forward to it.”

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Previously: Everblades are back as ECHL, players ratify contract to end strike

It was also the first game back for forward Isaac Nurse, who had offseason surgery himself.

The strike, although a brief four days starting Friday, Dec. 26, was an awkward situation for Blades head coach Brad Ralph and his staff.

“We were caught in the middle,” Ralph said. “We love our players. We want our players taken care of. At the same time, we want to play hockey. Hopefully, in the end, it works for everyone. So we’re happy to be back playing, and I know all the guys here want to play hockey.”

And the players were feisty as there were three roughing penalties, and fans were treated to fisticuffs with one of their favorite pugilists, Oliver Cooper, trading blows with former Everblade Reece Newkirk.

“It’s fun to be back at work and playing the game,” Cooper said. “We had a lot of fun coming into the ring to battle them together. I mean, we’re an emotional team, and that’s how we play.”

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Cooper also scored a goal, putting him one assist short of earning a Gordie Howe hat trick, an unofficial hockey stat bestowed upon a player who gets a goal, assist, and fight in one game.

The game was scoreless for the first 22 minutes, but defenseman Jordan Sambrook woke up the arena on a 4-on-4. Hudson Elynuik passed to the slot, where Sambrook one-timed a shot top shelf to get his first goal of the season.

Orlando (10-15-2-1) came back three minutes later on the power play with Logan Britt passing from the left to Tyler Bird, who also went top shelf to score.

Why is the ECHL on strike?: Blades player Logan Lambdin helps explain

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Near the 13-minute mark of the second period, Anthony Romano skated with the puck into the offensive zone and passed to Gianfranco Cassaro. Chaos ensued as eight players bunched up to the blocker side face-off circle as Cassaro shot and the puck rebounded off Orlando goalie Jon Gillies and was deflected across the end line. Cooper slid the puck in front of the net, and it bounced off Orlando defender Carter Allen’s skate into the net as Cooper got credit for the goal.

A more textbook goal gave the Everblades insurance with five minutes left in the middle frame. Quinton Burns passed across the blue line to Blades captain Oliver Chau. The latter sent a centering pass that Craig Needham deflected into the net to make it 3-1.

The Solar Bears tried to make a game of it late in the third period. With less than four minutes left, Britt and Spencer Kersten passed the puck back and forth between the center and right points. Kersten finally took a shot from the right point. Florida goalie Will Cranley stopped it but couldn’t corral it, and Jack Adams put the loose puck into the net.

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The Blades held off the Solar Bears, who played almost the last three minutes with the goalie pulled, to pick up the win. Cranley won his eighth straight start, improving to 9-1-0-0 on the season, and is now 4-0 against Orlando, allowing just three goals in those four starts.

As for the strike, the ECHL saw 41 games postponed, including three Everblades games at home against the Reading Royals. According to Florida president Craig Brush, the franchises are working on new dates for those games, which will be announced by the league when they are finalized.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida Everblades beat Orlando in first game after ECHL strike ends