ESTERO, Fla. – A three-goal first period set the stage, as the Florida Everblades led from wire-to-wire for the second straight night, defeating the Orlando Solar Bears 6-3 in Game Two of the South Division Finals in front of 5,667 energized fans Saturday night at Hertz Arena. The Everblades lead the best-of-seven series two games to none.
In the Everblades’ highest-scoring game of the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs, six different Everblades had multiple points. Captain Joe Pendenza scored two goals and Cole Moberg recorded three points to lead the way. Three of the Blades’ six goals came on the power play.
Repeating the team’s performance in Friday’s opening game, the Everblades jumped out to an early multi-goal lead, beating former Blades netminder Evan Fitzpatrick for three goals in a 7:14 span. Todd Skirving (6:51) opened the scoring with his first goal as an Everblade. Moberg (8:51) doubled the lead with his fourth tally of the playoffs, and Sean Josling (14:04) finished off the onslaught with his fifth goal of the postseason. Josling’s goal was his second power-play marker in as many nights.
While Orlando’s Jesse Jacques got the Solar Bears on the board with a power-play goal at 9:50 of the middle period, the Everblades would keep rolling, taking a 5-1 lead on goals by Pendenza (11:03) and Oliver Chau (13:14). Orlando’s Kevin Lombardi closed out the second period scoring at 13:29, as Florida took a 5-2 advantage into the second intermission.
Pendenza picked up his second goal and the Everblades’ third power-play goal, as Florida pulled ahead 6-2 at 6:12 of the third period. Orlando’s Mitchell Hoelscher closed out the scoring 17:51 with the Blades on top 6-3.
A winner for the fifth straight game, Cam Johnson made 27 saves in goal for the Blades. Fitzpatrick had 17 saves and suffered the loss for Orlando.
With a pair of Florida wins on home ice in hand, the series shifts to Kia Center in Orlando, where the Solar Bears will host Games Three, Four and Five (if necessary) on May 7, 9 and 12. Games Three and Four will begin at 7:00 p.m., while a possible Game Five would be at 3:00 p.m. Should the series require a Game Six or Game Seven, those contests would be played at Hertz Arena on May 14 and 15. Fans may purchase tickets for South Division Finals games that will be played at Hertz Arena at the Fifth Third Bank Box Office at Hertz Arena, online HERE, 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 to purchase tickets for games played at Hertz Arena.
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