PREVIEW: 'Blades eye two-game lead in South Division Finals against Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. — Leading the South Division Finals 2-1, the Florida Everblades try to extend their lead in the best-of-seven series to two games when they square off against the Orlando Solar Bears on Thursday at the Amway Center. 

VITALS:South Division Final - Game 4: Everblades vs. OrlandoWhen: 7 p.m. ETWhere: Amway CenterWatch: ECHL.tvListen: 99.3 FM ESPNSocial: Twitter | #FLAvsORL

Last Time OutTrailing 2-0 entering the third period, Florida scored twice in a span of 3:39 to tie the game before the halfway point of the period and eventually force overtime on Tuesday in Game 3 against Orlando. John McCarron then scored on the power play four minutes, eight seconds into overtime to lift the Everblades to a 3-2 victory. Florida withstood a 20-shot barrage in the first period thanks to 18 saves from goaltender Callum Booth. Booth finished with 31 saves to earn his second straight win. Blake Winiecki had Florida's first strike in the third period, while Nathan Perkovich tied the game at two with his first goal of the playoffs. BOX SCORE | RECAP

Players to WatchJohn McCarron (FLA) – The 'Blades captain netted his second career postseason overtime goal in Tuesday's victory over Orlando. That tally was McCarron's second game-winning goal of this playoffs and sixth game-winner in the postseason in his career. The Macomb, Michigan, native leads Florida with his 11 points (4g-7a) and four multi-point games in the 2019 Kelly Cup Playoffs. With a goal and an assist on Tuesday, McCarron now has 19 career postseason multi-point games. 

Zach Frye (ORL) - The rookie defenseman tabbed Orlando's first goal on Tuesday night, his first goal of the playoffs. Frye has four points (1g-3a) in the playoffs and is tied for the team lead in points among defensemen. The University of Alaska-Fairbanks product played in 25 games for Orlando in the regular season and notched five goals and 16 points. He had 77 points (21g-56a) in 136 career NCAA games. 

Series historyFlorida and Orlando squared off 12 times during the regular season and split those 12 meetings right down the middle, with each team posting a 6-3-2-1 record. The 'Blades have held the significant edge in the all-time series since Orlando joined the ECHL for the 2012-13 season. Florida has compiled a 61-24-7 all-time mark and a 14-7 playoff record against the Solar Bears over the seven seasons of matchups.

Comeback TrailFlorida had only four wins in the regular season when it faced a deficit after two periods, but it has been resilient when it comes to mounting comebacks after 40 minutes in the postseason. The Everblades have orchestrated two comebacks in the four playoff games that they have trailed after two periods. Tuesday night's comeback victory was only the second time all season, including the regular season, in which Florida came back to win a game on the road in which it faced a deficit entering the third period. 

Another Overtime AffairIncluding the final three head-to-head meetings between Florida and Orlando in the regular season, the two teams have gone to overtime in six consecutive matchups. The ECHL record for most overtime games in one playoff series is four, a record the Idaho Steelheads and Utah Grizzlies tied in the first round of the 2019 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Everblades and Solar Bears had required overtime just twice in the first 18 games of the all-time playoff series before this current series started. 

Extra Session EffortSince losing 4-3 in overtime to Orlando on Dec. 21, the Everblades have won 10 of their last 12 games that have gone to overtime. Florida started the season 0-5 in overtime but has compiled a 10-0-1-1 record over that 12-game span dating back to a 6-5 win over Orlando on Dec. 22. The only two losses in those 11 games were both to Orlando. Florida dropped a 4-3 shootout decision on March 23 and lost Game 1 of this series in overtime, 2-1.

Tonight's BroadcastTonight's Game 4 will air on 99.3 FM ESPN. Fans can also listen online at 993espn.com. For the latest broadcast information throughout the playoffs, make sure to follow the 'Blades on Facebook and Twitter. 

​​​​​​Next UpThe two teams will go right back into the trenches for Game 5 on Friday night, the final game in Orlando in the series. Faceoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Amway Center. 

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