ECHL: Down on horses, Blades still win over Pride, 3-1

Unable to call on their scorers because two of them didn't dress (Jay Legault with the flu and rookie Carl Mallette with a sore back), the Everblades (10-3-3) relied on their defense and some solid goaltending by Jeff Maund to reach double digits in wins for the season.

Center Reggie Berg, in his second game back from a concussion, scored the game-winning goal at the 14:25 mark of the third period with a crowd-pleasing solo effort.

He stole the puck just outside Florence's blue line, skated all the way in on Pride goalie Matt Underhill and backhanded a shot into the net before it came off its pilings. Berg also assisted on Brian McCullough's power play goal in the second period.

"I don't know exactly what I did to get the puck, but once I saw some open ice I just went in and tried to score," Berg said.

"We knew coming in shorthanded with just eight forwards this was going to be a defensive game. We didn't have a choice."

Keith Anderson's empty-netter with 43 seconds left sealed the win as the Blades get ready to embark on a four-game road trip starting in Charleston, S.C., against the Stingrays on Wednesday.

Florence (5-7-2) couldn't solve Maund on numerous odd man rushes, and hurt its own offense with too many penalties. Only the Pride's strong penalty kill kept them in the game as Florida was just 1-of-9 on their power play.

Maund stopped 28 of 29 shots, including a handful of highlight reel saves from in close, to preserve the win.

"We're a young team and we needed to win a game like this," Maund said. "We can't always win 6-2 or 5-3, and these types of wins will only benefit us down the road."

Just before the midway point of the third period, the refs decided to try to even things up by sending Berg to the penalty box for four minutes for roughing after it looked like he was cross-checked in the face. Florida got aggressive on the penalty kill and didn't allow Florence a clean shot, allowing Berg to respond.

"It seems like that's the way teams are going to play me this year," Berg said. "All you can do is fight through it and go out there and play, and we all came together tonight."

EVERBLADES: 3 -- PRIDE: 1

Florence: 1 - 0 - 0 - 1

Florida: 0 - 1 - 2 - 3

First Period - Scoring: 1. Florence Sutter 7 (Crane, McRae) 7:10 (pp) Penalties: Forbes, Fla (roughing) 5:50; Gervais, Flo (obstruction hooking) 11:14; Knox, Flo (cross-checking) 13:02; Szwez, Flo (five-minute major boarding) 15:38; Szwez, Flo (game misconduct) 15:38.

Second Period - Scoring: 2. Florida McCullough 12 (Pagnutti, Berg) 17:57 (pp) Penalties: Annesley, Flo (cross-checking) 4:05; Torney, Flo (slashing) 6:50; Brunel, Flo (boarding) 10:08; Toenry, Flo (fighting) 10:38; Anderson, Fla (fighting) 10:38; McDonald, Fla (high sticking) 11:20; Florence bench (too many men on the ice) 15:49; Annesley, Flo (high sticking) 17:28; Berg, Fla (roughing) 19:35.

Third Period - Scoring: 3. Florida Berg 8 (Coalter) 14:25; Florida Anderson 12 (unassisted) 19:17 (en) Penalties: Pagnutti, Fla (interference) 2:32; Berg, Fla (roughing) 7:13; Berg, Fla (roughing) 7:13; Pagnutti, Fla (high sticking) 10:52; Sutter, Flo (high sticking) 11:50.

Shots on goal - Florence 7-10-12 - 29; Florida 12-8-10 - 30.

Power-play opportunities - Florence 1 of 6; Florida 1 of 9.

Goaltenders - Florence, Underhill 1-2-0 (29 shots, 27 saves), Empty net (1 shot, o saves); Florida, Maund 6-1-0 (29 shots, 28 saves).

A -- 6,375