ECHL: Express derails Blades' streak with 7-5 win

The Express fell behind Southern Division-leading Florida 3-0, then scored four goals in the second period and three more in the third to earn a 7-5 win over over the Everblades at the Roanoke Civic Center.

Dan Carlson scored two goals and delivered three assists to lead Roanoke (11-7-0). Rick Kowalsky and Shawn Limpright each scored two goals and added two assists and Joe Dusbabek handed out three assists. Kevin Bergin scored a goal and Steve Burgess and Josh Barker each had an assist for the Express.

Reggie Berg and Ryan Van Buskirk each scored a goal and an assist for the Everblades (12-4-3), whose winning streak was snapped at six. Carl Mallette had a goal and two assists and Jay Legault had three assists. Peter Reynolds and Chris Heisten each scored a goal. Brandon Coalter also had an assist for Florida.

As if the Southern Division- leading Everblades needed assistance, Roanoke handed them 11:40 of extra-man opportunities in the first period.

The Express killed a series of penalties that lasted for 8:12, including two interludes of 5-on-3 action, but only after the Everblades had taken a 2-0 lead.

The Express, apparently deciding that three goals were enough to spot the league's best scorers, scored four straight goals in the second period to take the lead.

The Blades bit back when Carl Mallette beat Jason Wolfe on the stick side on a breakaway at 1:18 in the third period.

Then, on a power-play breakaway, Joe Dusbabek dropped a pass back to Dan Carlson, who did the same for Rick Kowalsky.

Kowalsky beat Rob Zepp to his glove side from high in the slot at 8:09.

Roanoke was two-men up when Dan Carlson banked a shot from the left faceoff circle off Zepp's left side to give Roanoke a 6-4 lead at 11:13 of the third period.

Van Buskirk narrowed the lead with a power-play goal at 17:27, but the Express scored again when Florida pulled Zepp for an extra skater in the final minute.

EXPRESS 7

EVERBLADES 5

Florida: 2-1-2-5 Roanoke0-4-3-7

First period - 1, Florida Berg 10 (Mallette, Legault) 2:19 pp; 2, Florida Reynolds 3 (Berg, Legault) 4:39.

Second period - 3, Florida Heisten 2 (Van Buskirk, Coalter) 3:00; 4, Roanoke Kowalsky 10 (Carlson, Limpright) 3:31; 5, Roanoke Bergin 1 (Dusbabek) 4:53; 6. Roanoke Limpright 10 (Carlson, Kowalsky 8:32 pp; 7, Roanoke Carlson 9 (Burgess, Limpright) 17:49.

Third period - 8, Florida Mallette (Berg, Legault) 1:28; 9, Roanoke Kowalsky 11 (Carlson, Dusbabek) 8:09 pp; 10 Roanoke Carlson 10 (Kowalsky, Dusbabek) 11:13 pp; 11, Florida Van Buskirk 1 (Mallette) 17:27 pp; 12, Roanoke Limpright 11 (Barker) 19:14.

Shots - Florida 17-10-0-0; Roanoke 8-16-0-0. Saves - Florida Zepp 0-0; Roanoke Wolfe 0-0. Power plays - Florida 0-0; Roanoke 0-0.

Referee - Jason Rollins. Linesmen - Jeff Nygaard, Todd Owens.

A - 3,295.