Apparently, all the Florida Everblades need is rest to play at their best.

After a lackluster, sluggish performance in Friday’s first preseason contest, the Blades skated with fresh legs Saturday night, dominating the Chicago Express from start to finish, winning handily 5-2 at Germain Arena.

Everblades coach Greg Poss called Friday night’s performance a test to see how the team would respond when tired after working them through a week-long series of 12-hour practice sessions. That exhaustion was nowhere to be found Saturday.

“We were tired (Friday night),” said team veteran Matieu Roy, “but I think we definitely learned how to play tired, too, so that’s a good thing.”

The goals by the Blades came in spurts throughout the contest, with two goals coming less than a minute apart just four minutes into the first period. Another pair came 1:11 apart with less than three minutes to play in the second period.

Leading the way in goals for the night was rookie forward Justin Shugg, whose two tallies helped to build an insurmountable lead. Of the two goals by the 20-year-old standout the second was the more highlight worthy.

Shugg skated down all alone, and ahead of the defense, on the right side of the Express zone, flipping the puck neatly over goalie Marc-Antoine Gelinas to give the Blades command with a 4-1 lead.

Everblades netminder Pat Nagle rebounded from a poor performance Friday night and, with the help of a stingy defense that allowed only 14 shots through two periods, Nagle turned away 24 of the 26 shots he faced on the night, solidifying any justification Poss needed in not taking at look at his other goaltender before the regular season starts on Oct. 14.

“Things went really well,” said Nagle. “I thought our (defense) did a great job of just blocking shots, and if there was no one there I could make an easy cover. It was really great.”

With their preseason schedule behind them, the Everblades look to the start of the regular season, but with some tough decisions to be made. Poss has to trim his roster to just 10 forwards and six defensemen from the 29 players he had to evaluate through training camp and two preseason games.

The regular season starts next Friday night at Germain Arena with two games against the divisional rival Gwinnett Gladiators.

Preseason Schedule

Friday’s Game

Chicago 4, Florida 1

Saturday’s Game

Florida 5, Chicago 2

Regular Season

Fri. Oct. 14 – vs. Gwinnett, 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 15 – vs. Gwinnett, 7 p.m.