ORLANDO, Fla. – Bobo Carpenter’s second goal of the game with 6:04 left in overtime lifted the Florida Everblades to a 2-1 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears in Game Five of the South Division Finals Saturday night at Kia Center. With a 4-1 series victory, the Everblades are headed back to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third straight year and are eight victories away from capturing an unprecedented third consecutive Kelly Cup.
Florida awaits the winner of the Adirondack Thunder vs. Norfolk Admirals series, which Adirondack leads three games to two.
The Everblades controlled the tempo throughout the opening period, outshooting the Solar Bears 10-4, but could not break through with the game’s first goal.
That first tally would come midway through the second period, as Bobo Carpenter gave the Everblades a 1-0 lead with his fourth goal of the playoffs, burying a feed from Cole Moberg at the 11:46 mark. Both sides took 11 shots on goal in the middle frame.
In the third period, despite Orlando outshooting the Blades by an 8-2 count, it appeared as if the Everblades were going to close out the series with a 1-0 victory, but the Solar Bears had other ideas. With Orlando’s goal empty in favor of an extra attacker, Mitchell Hoelscher knotted the contest at 1-1 with 51 seconds remaining in regulation.
A wild and wide-open overtime period saw both teams have great looks, but Carpenter ended up being the hero, potting his second goal of the game and fifth of the postseason at 13:56 into the extra frame with Moberg and Mark Senden picking up the helpers.
The Everblades outshot Orlando 7-5 in the overtime period and 30-28 in the game. Cam Johnson turned aside 27 of 28 shots to pick up his eighth win of the playoffs.
Regardless of the Blades’ opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals, Florida will open the series on the road at dates and times to be determined. The Everblades will host Game Three on Wednesday, May 22, Game Four on Friday, May 24 and Game Five on Saturday, May 25 (if necessary) at Hertz Arena.
Tickets for Eastern Conference Finals games that will be played at Hertz Arena will go on sale online Sunday at 10:00 a.m. by clicking HERE or in-person on Monday at the Fifth Third Bank Box Office at Hertz Arena or by calling the Everblades office at 239-948-PUCK.
Visit floridaeverblades.com for more information on the Kelly Cup Playoffs presented by Germain Lexus and Scanlon Lexus and to purchase tickets for games played at Hertz Arena.
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