The defending 2022 Kelly Cup Champions received major contributions from players up and down the lineup, led by Sean Josling, who scored the first two goals of the game, and Tyler Irvine who also added a pair of goals and an assist. In the playmaking department, Joe Pendenza registered three assists, while Stefan Leblanc picked up a pair.
Last year’s playoff hero for the Everblades, goaltender Cam Johnson, was sensational in his 2023 playoff debut. Johnson registered 35 saves and picked up the victory after earning 26 regular-season wins, tied for third in the ECHL, just two off the league lead. The shutout was the fifth career playoff shutout for Johnson, who posted four clean sheets en route to earning the ECHL’s June M. Kelly Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award a year ago.
En route to a 3-0 lead after the first 20 minutes, Josling struck first, lighting the lamp at the 8:44 mark, just 29 seconds into the Blades’ first power-play opportunity of the postseason. His second goal came three minutes later at 11:45, while Irvine closed out the first-period scoring at the 16:53 mark.
Florida had more first period goals than the Stingrays had shots, piling up a 10-2 edge in the opening frame.
In the middle period, Irvine potted his second goal of the contest midway through the frame, while Ashton Calder tacked on a power-play goal at 12:33 to send Florida into the second intermission with a 5-0 lead that would remain intact the rest of the way.
Despite getting outshot by South Carolina 35-28 over 60 minutes, Florida’s special teams played a significant role in the victory. The Everblades were 2-for-5 on the power play, while the Stingrays came up empty on all four of their power-play opportunities.
The best-of-seven series resumes with Game Two at South Carolina Monday at 7:05 p.m., before shifting back to Hertz Arena for Games Three and Four on Wednesday, April 26 and Friday, April 28, respectively, at 7:30 p.m. and also Game Five, if necessary, on Saturday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m.
With Florida Everblades release
South Division Semifinals
South Carolina (0) vs Florida (1)
Game 1 – Apr 22 Florida 5, South Carolina 0
Game 2 – Apr 24 Florida at South Carolina 7:05 PM EST
Game 3 – Apr 26 South Carolina at Florida 7:30 PM EST
Game 4 – Apr 28 South Carolina at Florida 7:30 PM EST
Game 5 – Apr 29 South Carolina at Florida 7:00 PM EST
Game 6 – May 1 Florida at South Carolina 7:05 PM EST
Game 7 – May 3 Florida at South Carolina 7:05 PM EST
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