LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – The Tahoe Monsters were able to pull out a win in the final game against the Florida Everblades. Tahoe had dropped four games in a row before Saturday’s win and has fallen to third in the Mountain Division. Here is a recap of their three-game series in Florida:

Thursday – Knight Monsters Falter in Game One in Florida

The Tahoe Knight Monsters fell behind in the first period against the Florida Everblades and couldn’t recover late, losing 4-2 in game one of the series. Logan Nelson and Luke Adam scored, but it wasn’t enough against Florida’s tight defense.

The fireworks began early and often in the first period, with five total goals scored and multiple highlight reel saves on both sides. Logan Nelson started the fun with a tip-in goal for his 11th of the season, but the Everblades would respond with three unanswered to take a commanding 3-1 lead. 

While time ticked down in the first with Florida controlling the pace of play, a strong shift by the Tahoe’s third line led to a Luke Adam rebound goal with 30 seconds left to cut the deficit to one and tilt the ice back in their favor.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the second period, as both Jesper Vikman and Cam Johnson stood tall in between the pipes. Tahoe went 0-2 on their power plays in the middle 20, and Vikman kept things close entering the third. 

But Florida struck early in the third period on a rebound strike from Isaac Nurse to double their lead. And they locked it down defensively from there, only allowing six shots on goal and killing off a four-minute power play late in the frame.

Special teams played a big factor in the contest, as Florida killed four Tahoe power plays and scored a power play goal in the first period. 

Vikman was under fire throughout the game and made 33 saves on 37 shots, but made all 13 saves in the second.

Friday – Knight Monsters Can’t Find Consistency in Game Two Against Florida

The Tahoe Knight Monsters extended their losing streak to four games as they fell in game two 4-1 against the Florida Everblades. Despite the final score, Jesper Vikman had a strong showing, and Jake Johnson scored the lone Tahoe goal.

Both teams matched play at the start of the game as they each fired eight shots on net. Despite the equal effort, the Everblades were able to squeak one past Vikman with a tip-in by Dillon Hamaliuk late in the first period to take the lead

Tahoe received an early power play in the second period, but their power play struggles from game one continued as they ceded a shorthanded goal after a costly turnover behind the net. The power play is now 0/9 through the two games of this series, with a -1 goal differential.

As the frame continued, frustrations continued to brew as both squads received minor penalties only 30 seconds apart in the final minute. As four-on-four began, Alex Kile was able to put the puck past Vikman on the rebound in the final half second of the frame.

The Knight Monsters entered the third period down 3-0 with 16 total shots on goal and 24 shots against. But the game turned one-sided from there, with Florida outshooting Tahoe 14-0 in the first 16 minutes of the third and controlling pace of play.

Tahoe managed to get on the board late with a Jake Johnson goal from distance that he fired in while falling to the ice to break up a potential shutout bid for Cam Johnson. The goal was held up after a lengthy review for goaltender interference.

Immediately following the goal, the Everblades scored on an empty net to put the game away and win the series with over a minute to go in the third. 

Despite being saddled with the loss, Jesper Vikman played well throughout the contest, ending the night with a strong showing of a .916% save percentage and 33 stops, including all 14 shots he saw in the third. Since winning game one against Wichita last week, Tahoe has dropped four games in a row and has fallen to third in the Mountain Division.

Saturday – Knight Monsters Bite Back in Game 3, Defeat Everblades 6-2

For a Tahoe squad that had lost four games in a row entering game three against the Florida Everblades, a bounce back victory was needed in the series finale.

And the Knight Monsters delivered, riding strong special teams and a dominant second period to a 6-2 victory in Florida, providing a positive bookend to a two-week road trip. Bear Hughes scored twice, Isaac Johnson notched three points, and Jesper Vikman was stellar in net to drive Tahoe to victory and snap their four-game losing streak. 

They wasted no time in the first period to get on the board with a Patrick Newell power play goal set up by Isaac Johnson. It was Newell’s first goal since 12/27, and Tahoe’s first power play goal of the series.

Vikman locked things down from there in the first, making some fantastic saves and keeping the Florida offense at bay. And the buzzer sounded on Tahoe’s first lead to end a period throughout the entire set.

And then the Knight Monsters erupted in the second.

They scored three goals, including another on the power play, and consistently set up high danger chances in transition. One of those chances came just over a minute in, and Bear Hughes finished it to increase Tahoe’s lead to 2-0.

That tally gave Tahoe their first multi-goal lead since game two of their series against Adirondack, and it was all the more important coming against Florida’s tight defense. 

While Florida cut their deficit in half a few minutes later, the Knight Monsters were able to respond quickly by stringing multiple strong shifts together. And seven minutes later, Logan Nelson took a breakaway down the ice and scored to make it 3-1.

Bear Hughes scored his second of the game after Florida was assessed a major penalty to extend the lead to three goals, and the period ended with Tahoe holding a 4-1 lead.

In the third, Jesper Vikman took over, making 12 of 13 saves and killing off three Florida power plays. He consistently made multiple highlight reel saves in a row and looked poised and confident throughout the contest. 

Tarun Fizer made it 4-2 late in the frame, but Luke Adam sealed the deal with an empty netter. And Jordan Henderson put the final cherry on top with a power play strike with less than a minute to go, his first goal in his ECHL career.

This game was a sharp top-to-bottom effort for the Knight Monsters, who finished a roller coaster ride of a road trip with a 2-4 record. And while dropping two of three in back-to-back series may not sound ideal, Tahoe hung in against two high quality teams while battling through some key injuries.

Florida is the best team in the ECHL, and the Knight Monsters were right there with them throughout the entire series. As we get into the final stretch of the season and the playoff push, resilient wins like this one are the blueprint for success.

Tahoe returns home to start a six-game homestand with sets upcoming against the Allen Americans and the Rapid City Rush, two teams they have had success against this season. It’s an opportunity to bank some more points and have some consistent play as we head into March. 

Game one against the Allen Americans is on Friday, February 28, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 pm. Khalin Kapoor will be on the call on the Knight Monsters Broadcast Network and FloHockey.TV. And, after every Knight Monsters home game check out a postgame party at AleWorX Stateline for wood-fired pizza, self-serve beer, and great scenery. Postgame recaps are presented by AleWorX Stateline