With the ECHL’s South Division lead on the line Friday night, the Florida Everblades failed to extend their winning streak with a 2-1 loss to the Greenville Road Warriors at Germain Arena.

Expecting the Road Warriors to come out playing tight Wednesday night’s game, the Everblades made sure to set an early tone by scoring first.

On a 3-on-2 breakaway just over nine minutes into the opening period, Mike McKenzie charged Greenville’s net, passing the puck back to trailing Mitch Fadden, who beat Greenville goalie Dov Grumet-Morris.

“That was a great play by McKenzie,” said Ross Carlson, who was trailing Fadden on the play. “He faked the slap shot making the goalie and (defense) bite, then went back to Fadden who shot 5-hole. It was a heck of a play.”

Florida had a chance to add to its early lead late in the period with a minute worth of a 5-on-3 power play, but failed to convert.

Greenville carried the momentum killing off Florida’s power play all the way through the second period and scored twice. The back breaker came with the Everblades on a power play.

With five minutes played in the second period, the Blades found themselves on another power play and a chance to widen their 1-0 lead, but a bad turnover by Fadden at the blue line lead to a 2-on-1 break that beat Everblades netminder Bobby Goepfert (27 saves).

Ten minutes later, Greenville scored the game winner.

The Blades did have their chances to steal the game, with a 2-on-1 shorthanded chance in the second period and a shot by Carlson that hit the post late in the third, but the pucks wouldn’t bounce their way.

The Road Warriors’ win gives them a three-point lead over the second-place Blades in the South Division.

“We had our chances to tie this game,” said Everblades coach Greg Poss. “We had the one shot from Carlson that looked like it went in. We didn’t score on the 5-on-3, and we didn’t score any power play goals. We just didn’t get the bounces tonight.”

The Blades (16-10) meet the Road Warriors again Saturday night at Germain Arena, their third meeting this week.