KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Pat Nagle made 34 saves to lead the Florida Everblades to a 2-0 shutout victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals Friday night.
Florida takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Florida struck first. David Rutherford steered a long pass from the right wing boards, to the far side of the crease to defenseman Bobby Raymond who directed the puck high past the blocker of Wings goaltender Riley Gill for the goal. The Everblades took that 1-0 lead into the first break.
In the second, Trevor Bruess outhustled the Wings defense on the left side, and angled toward the top the crease. Bruess swung the puck around the stick of Gill, and tapped it into the net for the goal and a 2-0 lead. It is his fourth of the postseason.
Nagle and company took care of business and shut down the Wings in the third. Nagle stopped all 17 shots faced in the third period to secure the victory.
Nagle records his second shutout of the postseason making 34 saves.
The teams meet again Saturday in Game 2 at 7:30 p.m. The series shifts to Germain Arena Wednesday.
