Vander Esch Propels Blades to Game Two Victory

TOLEDO, Ohio. -- The Everblades leave the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH with a pair of wins after securing a 3-1 victory in Game Two against the Toledo Walleye on Saturday night. Forward Dylan Vander Esch led the way with one goal and an assist.

The Everblades quickly pressed Toledo netminder Billy Christopoulos and collected a 1-0 lead off a Levko Koper deflection 3:30 into the first period. Xavier Bouchard provided the shot from the blue line before Koper caught a piece of it for his third goal of the playoffs. 

Vander Esch increased the Florida lead to 2-0 on an odd-man rush alongside Joe Pendenza, who picked up the lone assist at 12:19 of the first period. It was the first shorthanded goal of the Kelly Cup Finals from either side. The play also marked the Everblades’ fifth unanswered lamplighter dating back to Game One of the series. 

The Blades kept their two-goal advantage entering the first intermission with the Everblades and Walleye each recording eight shots. The Florida power play unit turned in a 0-for-2 record while up a man in the opening period, while Toledo could not convert on their lone man-advantage.

Zach Solow (15:52) provided the lone tally of the second period for a 3-0 Everblades advantage. The strike came on the power play and it represented Solow’s second goal of the series. Stefan Leblanc and Jake Jaremko were credited with assists. 

Cam Johnson’s combined scoreless streak of 90:42 ended at the hands of Marcus Vela, who ricocheted the puck into the net at the nine-minute marker of period three to make it a 3-1 game. From there, Johnson and the Everblades defensive core buckled down the remainder of the night to take the win. The Blades will bring the Kelly Cup Finals to Estero with a 2-0 series lead.

Tickets for Games Three, Four and Five of the Kelly Cup Finals in Estero on Wednesday, June 8, Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11 (if necessary) are on sale at the Hertz Arena Fifth Third Box Office and via Ticketmaster. The puck drops at 7:30 pm for Games Three and Four, while Game Five is slated to get underway at 7:00 pm. To learn more, call or text (239) 948-7825 or purchase HERE.

Fans unable to catch any of the Kelly Cup Finals games in person can watch every Florida Everblades game on FloHockey.TV. In addition, fans can listen to the exciting game action online via Mixlr at www.mixlr.com/florida-everblades or on ESPN Southwest Florida on 770 AM, 98.1 FM, 104.3 FM.

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2022 Kelly Cup Playoff Tickets are now on sale. Join the Blades in their pursuit for a second Kelly Cup title! To learn more, call or text (239) 948-7825 or purchase HERE. 

Become a member of the Florida Everblades family by securing a great seat location and big savings with a Blades 365 Membership!

Purchase a new Voucher 12 package that allows you to use 12 tickets in any quantity during the 2022-23 season to earn the exclusive benefits of being a Blades 365 Member! To view the Blades 365 Membership savings, benefits and options click HERE.

Everblades put the FUN in FUNdraising! There is no handling of money or tickets and no limit to the amount of money your group can make with the Everblades easy-to-run online Fundraiser! For more information, or to reserve a Fundraiser Night at an Everblades regular season home game, call or text (239) 948-7825.

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Watch every Florida Everblades game on FloHockey.TV. Listen to the exciting game action on ESPN Southwest Florida on 770 AM, 98.1 FM, 104.3 FM and online at https://espnswfl.com or Mixlr at www.mixlr.com/florida-everblades. 

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The Florida Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Nashville Predators and the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals.

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