DULUTH, GA – After beating the Gladiators twice in the preseason, the Florida Everblades could not repeat that feat for the first game of the regular season.  Despite scoring the first goal of the game the Everblades dropped the decision 4-1 in Gwinnett.  Florida finished their three-game road trip 1-1-1, capturing three
                                 
Florida got on the scoreboard as Rob Hennigar fired a wrist shot off the right circle that beat Danny Taylor stick side.  Captain Kevin Baker recorded the assist as the goal came 5:17 into the period.  Gwinnett would respond on the power play just under six minutes later.  Sam Roberts recorded his first goal of the year from leading assist man Brad Schell and Scott Mifsud.  Gwinnett outshot Florida 13-6 in the opening period.
 
Period two would start with another power play goal from Gwinnett.  Tom Zanoski recorded his sixth tally of the season just 2:06 into the period to make the score 2-1.  Power plays were the name of the period as Florida and Gwinnett combined for seven chances on the extra man scenario.  
 
In the third, Gwinnett added their first even strength goal of the game.  Daniel Sullivan tipped in a Brad Schell shot from the point to extend the Gwinnett lead to 3-1.  The Gladiators added an empty net goal with 50-seconds remaining to finish the scoring.
 
Florida returns home for three games next week in the friendly confines of Germain Arena.  The Everblades host new ECHL member Toledo for three straight games on Wednesday, November 11, Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14.

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