Who: Florida Everblades vs. Las Vegas Wranglers
What: Game 4, Kelly Cup Finals (Florida leads 2-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Germain Arena
Radio: WWCN/AM 770 or www.floridaeverblades.com
Live video: www.b2livetv.com
Tickets: Available. Single-game cost $12-34 and are available at the box office or by calling 948-PUCK (7825)
ESTERO â€" After three games in the Kelly Cup Finals, the Florida Everblades have followed the script nearly perfectly. They stole a game in Las Vegas and, in the process, home-ice advantage in the series, then followed that up with a thrilling overtime win at home in front of a near-capacity crowd.
Despite the jubilation of Friday and the fact that the team holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, Florida's players know things can change in an instant if they don't take care of business on Tuesday night.
"We still have home ice and that's what our goal was coming back from Vegas," Florida forward David Rutherford said. " ... The guys know what's on the line and we can take a stranglehold if we can come out prepared."
Florida hosts the Wranglers in Game 4 at Germain Arena at 7:30 p.m. after a three-day break in the series. With a win, Florida can put Las Vegas on the ropes, but a Wranglers victory assures the teams of having to travel back to Nevada for at least one game, something the Everblades are hoping to avoid.
"This is very important. Tis is a big game," Florida forward Trevor Bruess said. " ... We have to play this one with a Game 7 mentality."
Florida coach Greg Poss said that while he expects Las Vegas to come out hungry following a disappointing loss on Friday, his team also is eager to get off to a good start.
"Both teams are very desperate at this point," Poss said. "The whole season's on the line, and both teams are going to invest everything they have."
In order to rest up various bumps and bruises following Friday's game, the Everblades took Saturday off and held shorter practices on Sunday and Monday.
Rutherford said that at this time of the year, the players have a love-hate relationship with days off, especially when they're winning.
"We're looking forward to getting back to playing," Rutherford said. "We don't really like the days off ... but you almost need the break with the way (Game 3) ended."
The time off has also given Las Vegas a chance to better acclimate to the Eastern time zone after arriving in Florida less than 24 hours before Game 3. Despite the travel and fatigue, the Wranglers still pushed the game to overtime, and Florida is expecting an even better effort.
"It's a game of inches so it's tough in moments like this," Rutherford said. "But this is where good players rise to the occasion and we're excited for it."
The Everblades will be without defenseman Ryan McGinnis for the rest of the series, after he suffered a major lower-body injury after being dumped into the Wranglers bench during Game 3. McGinnis, who rejoined the team just prior to the start of the finals, had a goal just before being knocked out of Friday's game.
Poss declined to comment on the hit that led to the injury, but did say he does not expect the league to hand down any punishment.
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