ESTERO, Fla. – Tarun Fizer scored goals in each of the first two periods and was one of five Everblades to register two-point performances as the Blades topped the Orlando Solar Bears 6-2 in Game Two of the South Division Finals in front of 6,508 fans Saturday night at Hertz Arena.
With the victory, the Everblades lead the best-of-seven series two games to none as the action shifts to Orlando for potentially three games.0000
A busy opening period saw the Everblades score first for the second straight game in the series. Fizer and Colton Hargrove staked the Blades to an early 2-0 lead. Fizer’s goal was his first of the playoffs, while Hargrove connected for the fourth consecutive game.
Orlando got on the board after a lengthy video review at the 11:18 mark, with Ara Nazarian getting credited with his second goal of the playoffs, as the Blades’ lead was cut to 2-1 heading into the first intermission. The hectic first period saw Florida lead the shot battle 14-9.
Fizer doubled the Everblades’ lead with his second goal of the night, putting the good guys on top 3-1 just over five minutes into the second period.
The third period proved to be the busiest stretch of the contest. Logan Lambdin (4:55) and Dillon Hamaliuk (7:41) blew the game open, as the Blades took a 5-1 lead. Orlando’s Anthony Bardaro got an unassisted goal back for the Solar Bears, trimming Florida’s lead to 5-2 with an unassisted goal with just over three minutes to play.
Following a tussle at 18:40 that saw each team assessed three minor penalties, Kyle Betts closed out the scoring with a late empty-net goal.
Orlando outshot the Everblades 34-28 due in large part to a 17-7 edge in the third period. In goal, ECHL Goaltender of the Year Cam Johnson turned aside 32 of 34 Orlando shots – including 16 in the final frame –
and improved to 6-0 in six postseason starts.
With the Everblades looking to take a 3-0 series lead, the teams will be back in action for Game Three Tuesday night in Orlando’s Kia Center, with the puck slated to drop at 7:00 p.m. Visit floridaeverblades.com for more information and to purchase tickets for any future Kelly Cup Playoff games at Hertz Arerna.
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