READING, Pa. – The fifth and final meeting of the season with the Reading Royals went in favor of the Florida Everblades 2-1 in a shootout Wednesday night, Jan. 13.

The Blades opened the scoring at 15:50 of the first period on a power-play tally by Mathieu Roy. Reading tied it late in the third with a goal by Ben Gordon.

The game was decided in a shootout where goalie Barry Brust dominated, turning away all seven shooters. Kevin Baker scored the only shootout goal for the Everblades.

Brust was loaned to the Everblades by the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League earlier in the day and forward Harrison Reed rejoined the Blades from their AHL affiliate in Albany.

In the first period, the Everblades came out strong and committed only one penalty. The only marker was scored when Scott Hotham sent the puck in from Elgin Reid and Roy shot it into the net.

Both teams had several scoring opportunities in the middle frame. A.J. Thelen hit the post and shook Matt Dalton’s water bottle early. Scott Hotham ripped a shot from the inside the circle forcing a save.

Reading entered the third looking for the equalizer. It looked as if they would get it when Gordon broke out on the penalty kill, but Brust stopped the puck. Gordon wasn’t deterred and at 18:10 scored to force overtime.

Neither team scored in the overtime period and the goalies went head-to-head in a seven-round shootout. Brust was impenetrable and Baker beat Dalton to secure the win for the Everblades.

Brust returns to Florida after spending nearly a month in Houston. He appeared in three games posting a 2-1-0 mark with a 2.43 goals-against average and .904 save percentage. He appeared in his 11th game with the Everblades this season.

The Everblades finish off their season-high 11-game road trip Friday and Saturday nights at Trenton. They return to home ice at Germain Arena Jan. 22 and 23 to face the Gwinnett Gladiators.