ECHL: Blades pumped for Pride fight

Tonight at TECO Arena, the Florida Everblades will renew their ECHL rivalry with the Florence (S.C.) Pride -- formerly known as the Pee Dee Pride -- in the first of back-to-back games.

This is the third of eight meetings between the two teams, with the Everblades winning at Florence on Oct. 19, 8-4.

"If there has been one true rivalry for us, it's been the Pride," said Everblades head coach Gerry Fleming before Thursday morning's practice. "We've had some really good battles with them over the years and I expect this weekend to be much of the same."

Pee Dee eliminated the Blades from the 2000 playoffs in five games, the year before Fleming was hired.

Florida (8-3-3) is looking to hold on to first place in the Eastern Conference's Southern Division, and Florence (5-5-2) is hoping to continue its climb up the ladder following a sluggish start.

But the Everblades are going to have to make due without one of their hottest scorers -- rookie forward Chad Larose. The Lowell (Mass.) Lock Monsters, Florida's American Hockey League affiliate, recalled Larose after Thursday's practice.

"He's an exciting player to watch," Fleming said. "He reminds me of (Tampa Bay Lightning forward) Martin Lapointe with his speed and scoring ability, and he's played well enough to deserve a look up in Lowell. It shows the rest of the guys, too, that if they play hard there is an opportunity to move up in this organization."

Larose is the fourth-leading scorer on the team with 13 points (6 goals, 7 assists), is tied for the league lead in shorthanded goals with two, and is tied for fourth among ECHL rookie scorers. Last Friday, he had two goals and an assist in Florida's 6-2 win over the Charlotte Checkers.

Fortunately for Fleming, center Reggie Berg was activated off the seven-day injured reserve and will play for the first time since suffering a concussion in San Diego two weeks ago. Berg likely will team up with Jay Legault and rookie Carl Mallette on the second line, although Mallette hurt his back in practice and is questionable.

"I've been feeling pretty good.

Anytime you miss time it feels good to get back out there," Berg said. "I haven't had any headaches or anything. I'm just looking to go out there and see if I can help contribute, do my job."

Florence comes in with a different looking team than the one the Everblades faced on opening weekend. Matt Underhill is back in net, forward Allan Sirois has returned, and on Monday the Pride acquired right wing Craig Brunel from Peoria for defenseman Malcolm MacMillan.

Sirois already has nine points (2 goals, 7 assists) in just six games, and Underhill stopped 25 of 27 shots in a 3-2 win over Greenville last week in his first start in net.

Another shot in the arm for the Everblades is the return of goalie Rob Zepp, who played well last Saturday up in Lowell in a 4-4 tie before being sent back down Monday. Zepp is expected to start in net tonight, with Jeff Maund likely going Saturday.

"It was nice not to miss any action and play a game in the AHL," said Zepp, who returned to practice Wednesday. "I felt better as the game went along and adjusted to the pace, and I know this should be a hard-fought, competitive game."

Zepp was in Lowell when the season began so this will be his first look at the Pride this season.

Defensemen Ian Forbes and Jon Insana still are being listed as questionable by Fleming, who would have only four defensemen otherwise.