ORLANDO, Fla. – Three first-period goals in in a span of one minute and 18 seconds and a season-high 41-save performance by ECHL All-Star Cam Johnson was all the Florida Everblades needed to claim a fourth-straight victory over the Orlando Solar Bears, taking a 5-2 decision Friday evening at Amway Center to send 8,102 Solar Bears fans home disappointed.
Despite Orlando’s Brayden Guy opening the scoring just under five minutes after the opening draw, Florida took a 3-1 advantage into the first intermission. Former Solar Bear James McEwan and Cole Moberg potted goals 24 seconds apart, while Levko Koper made it three first-period goals in 78 seconds to stake the visiting Everblades to a two-goal lead after 20 minutes.
Blake Winiecki extended the Blades lead to 4-1 midway through the second period before Orlando’s Ross Olsson netted an early third-period goal that trimmed the Florida lead to 4-2.
Xavier Cormier added an empty-net goal to close out the scoring, with Johnson picking up a goalie assist. Cormier (1 G, 1 A) and Nathan Staios (2 A) both had two-point performances for Florida.
With a season-high 41 saves, Johnson was a winner once again in goal for the Everblades, improving to 14-4-3-1, while extending his record to 5-0-3-1 in his last nine decisions away from Hertz Arena.
Both teams will faceoff once again at Hertz Arena on Saturday, January 7, with the puck slated to drop on First Responders Night at 7:00 p.m.
With Florida Everblades release