After taking two of three games last weekend in South Carolina, the Florida Everblades returned to a nearly sold out Germain Arena to face the Stingrays Friday night. This time it was South Carolina upending the Blades 5-3.

“I thought we had some guys give some exemplary effort out there tonight,” said Everblades coach Malcolm Cameron. “In order to beat a very good team you have to get the best out of everybody on your team.”

The Blades started off exactly the way they wanted after team captain Ross Carlson found the back of the net just 17 seconds into the game. It gave the impression that the Everblades were going to walk away with this one, too.

Carrying the 1-0 lead into the second period, the Everblades looked to widened their lead, only to watch as South Carolina scored two goals a minute apart on netminder Chris Beckford-Tseu (38 saves).

Not about to let the momentum shift, Blades forward Shea Guthrie tied the game at 2-2 when he beat Stingrays goalie Shane Connelly (27 saves) with a nifty wrist shot from point-blank range.

“It’s part of the game,” Guthrie said of the quick scoring. “You have to be mentally prepared that they were going to score goals.”

Florida looked to take back control in the third period, but their foe’s quick scoring ability struck again with a two goals 90 seconds apart.

The backbreaker came while the Blades were on a power play as a bad turnover in their end of the ice allowed for two-on-one breakaway score by the Stingrays, allowing them to take a two-goal cushion.

“When you don’t shoot the puck, that generally means you’re turning it over,” said Cameron. “We just have to stop overpassing the puck and trying to be fancy and just shoot the puck. Play north-south hockey and shoot the puck. It’s a simple game.”

The loss is particularly disheartening for the Blades who were closing the gap on South Carolina for the division lead. It set them back to 11 points behind the Stingrays (38-17-12).

The Blades (34-22-9) get a chance at redemption Saturday night at Germain Arena when the teams skate for the last time in the regular season.

* Transactions: Forward Brady Calla has been assigned by Rochester (AHL) and defenseman Mitch McColm has signed an amateur tryout agreement. Defenseman A.J. Thelen has been activated off the injured list and defenseman Elgin Reid has been recalled by Albany (AHL).