Everblades earn their spot in the Playoffs

ESTERO, Fla. – The way the Florida Everblades played this past Saturday night, the playoffs weren’t looking like a sure thing.    There was some concern about the possibility of the Blades even making it to the post-season.    But a combination of wins and losses in their division, gave the Blades the ticket to their 13 straight year in the playoff race, After Saturday night’s dismal shut-out loss to Wheeling (5-0), Florida Coach Greg Poss and his team met behind closed doors for almost an hour.    The Blades have dealt with the usual injuries, player call-ups and tight games.    Add in the fact that they have not played all that well, especially in the last six weeks, and the door to the post season was almost shut with a resounding thud. Coach Poss is happy and relieved that the Blades’ season will continue.   “ It’s a good thing to get the playoffs sealed up.    The week before, it didn’t look that way.    It looked like it would come down to the last series or the last game.” Depending on who wins and loses this coming week, the Blades could be seeded anywhere from fourth or eighth.    Teams seeded first through fourth will have the home ice advantage; something definitely worth the extra effort to secure. The Everblades play their last series of the regular season against the South Carolina Stingrays.    Depending on the final team seeds, these two teams could possibly have to play each other for the next eight games straight. The Blades have extended their play into the post season each spring since their inception in 1998.    They have made it twice to the Kelly Cup Finals, in 2003-04 against the Idaho Steelheads and again in 2004-05 against the Trenton Titans.   But they have not yet brought home the coveted Kelly Cup. Could this be their year? Contact the writer:   sharon.weatherhead@prohockeynews.com Contact the photographer: Rob.Huelsman@prohockeynews.com