The Florida Everblades had come in off a six game winning streak on the road and ran smack dab into a hot Davis Parley who posted a shut out to take a 2-1 win for the Stingrays on the Blades home ice. So, needless to say, I felt the need to go and observe this paragon of goaltending virtue first hand.

Saturday night was a different story however, as it was Craig Kowalski who posted the shut out, giving the Blades a 4-0 victory.

Local SW Florida resident Jason Provino provided EBUG services for the Rays, who were without Daren Machesney.

The game had progressed well into the third period, when Martin Tuma and Ryan Bennett got into a spat. Somehow, the Blades got out of that alright, only to have Brett Peterson take a stupid game misconduct with just under 4 minutes left to play.

Still, K-Wal hung on to get the win.

The Rays new jerseys did nothing for me, I still miss the old Sabres Lite sweaters, but I'm probably the only one who does, and I'm biased.

I had started putting this series up on NHL Connect, but there is no way to caption the photos, so it makes it kind of hard to know who you're looking at if you don't have a roster or know the players.

The full series is available here:

December 23, 2006 vs. South Carolina Stingrays