INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – The Florida Everblades scored early and often, posting a record-setting 8-1 victory over the host Kansas City Mavericks in Game One of the Kelly Cup Finals Friday night at Cable Dahmer Arena. 
The eight-goal performance tied the Kelly Cup Finals record for goals in one game, matching the 1989 Johnstown Chiefs, the 1992 Hampton Roads Admirals and the 1996 Charlotte Checkers. Florida also set an ECHL record with a seventh-straight victory in the Kelly Cup Finals
Bobo Carpenter, Oliver Chau and Riese Zmolek each scored two goals, as the Everblades notched three goals in the first period, added four goals in the second frame and scored the final seven goals of the game to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The fourth and final round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs presented by Germain Lexus and Scanlon Lexus will resume Saturday night in Missouri.
Both teams’ leading playoff scorers struck early with their respective ninth goals of the postseason. Carpenter buried a wrist shot from atop the right circle to give the Everblades a 1-0 lead exactly three minutes into the contest. Kansas City’s Jeremy McKenna followed in short order, converting a redirection at 6:26 to even the score at 1-1.
The Blades were far from done in the opening frame, potting two goals just 1:49 apart to pull ahead 3-1. Chau struck at 15:55 and Cole Moberg followed at 17:44 to close out the first-period scoring. Chau’s goal was his fourth of the playoffs, while Moberg, the league’s highest-scoring blueliner in the postseason, notched his sixth.
In the second period, the Everblades did one better than in the first, scoring four goals to take a 7-1 lead.
Carpenter notched his second goal of the game at the 8:50 mark, Zmolek followed at 9:28, and Chau added his second of the night – a shorthanded tally – at 11:09, Florida’s third goal in a 2:39 span. Carpenter’s 10th playoff tally was confirmed after video review revealed that his shot found the net after being ruled no goal on the ice. Logan Lambdin closed out the big four-goal second, scoring his fourth goal of the playoffs at 17:55 with Josh Ho-Sang picking up his league-high 14th playoff helper.
In the third period, Zmolek scored his second goal of the night, as a puck went off a Kansas City defender at into the Mavericks’ net to take an 8-1 lead six minutes into the frame.
In addition to their two-goal performances, Carpenter and Chau both added assists to end the night with three points apiece, while Lambdin had a goal and an assist for a two-point game.
The Everblades outshot Kansas City 36-35, with Cam Johnson making 34 saves en route to his 13th victory of the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Mavericks starting netminder Cale Morris exited after two periods, making 19 saves while allowing seven goals. Jack LaFontaine made nine saves and gave up one goal for Kansas City in the final period.
Saturday’s Game Two will get underway at 8:05 p.m. ET, before action shifts to Hertz Arena for Game Three on Wednesday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m. The Everblades will also host Game Four on Friday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m., and Game Five, if necessary, on Saturday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m. Should the series go longer than five games, Kansas City would host Games Six and Seven on Monday, June 10 and Wednesday, June 12, respectively.
Tickets for Kelly Cup Finals games that will be played at Hertz Arena are may be purchased online by clicking HERE, in-person 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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