Blades Bounce Back with 3-1 Win in Game Five

ESTERO, Fla. –  With their backs against the wall and needing a victory to remain alive in the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Florida Everblades did exactly that, claiming a 3-1 victory over the Jacksonville Icemen in Game Five of the South Division Semifinals Saturday night at Hertz Arena. With Jacksonville leading three games to two, the series shifts back to North Florida for Game Six on Tuesday.

Three different Blades scored goals, nine different Florida players tallied points, and first star of the game Cam Johnson stopped 27 of 28 shots in a total team effort as the Everblades extended the series in front of 5,247 diehard Southwest Florida hockey fans that stuck around to salute the Blades after the final whistle.

It took almost the entire first period, but for the first time in the series, the Everblades struck first. Following a big hit by Jesse Lansdell that dislodged the puck from a Jacksonville player in the visitors’ end, Bobo Carpenter slammed home the game’s first goal from the doorstep to give the good guys a 1-0 lead. Carpenter’s first goal of the playoffs came at 19:35 of the opening period and resulted in Florida’s first lead of the series. Riese Zmolek joined Lansdell in the assist column.

Florida wasted little time doubling its lead, as Logan Lambdin connected for the first time in the series just 1:34 into the second period, giving Florida a 2-0 lead and setting off an eruption inside Hertz Arena. Joe Pendenza won a faceoff in the right circle and Sean Josling immediately fed Lambdin for the score.

While Jacksonville’s Chris Grando trimmed the Everblades’ lead to 2-1 at 10:10 of the second, Mark Senden restored the home team’s two-goal lead, putting the Blades on top 3-1 with exactly three minutes left in the middle frame. Defensemen Jordan Sambrook and Zach Berzolla both earned helpers as the duo set up Senden’s insurance goal from the left circle.

Neither team scored in the third period. The Everblades claimed a 31-28 edge in shots on the night.

The series shifts back to Jacksonville for Game Six Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. and a potential Game Seven Wednesday evening, also at 7:00 p.m. Visit floridaeverblades.com for more information on the Kelly Cup Playoffs presented by Lexus and to purchase tickets for games played at Hertz Arena. 

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BLADES BITS

Bobo Carpenter gave the Everblades the team’s first lead of the series with his first professional playoff goal in the final minute of the opening period. Carpenter, who was sidelined throughout the Blades’ 2023 Kelly Cup championship run, lit the lamp with 25 seconds remaining in the first stanza.

Logan Lambdin’s first goal of the playoffs was his ninth postseason tally in a Blades sweater. He found the net eight times in 22 contests a year ago, as the Everblades claimed the organization’s third Kelly Cup.

With assists on Bobo Carpenter’s goal, Jesse Lansdell and Riese Zmolek earned the first postseason assists of their professional careers.

Mark Senden’s first pro playoff marker came off assists by Jordan Sambrook and Zach Berzolla. Sambrook’s helper was his second point of the series, while Berzolla’s playoff assist was his first in an Everblades sweater since 2021. 

Saturday Night’s Scoresheet 

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JOIN THE FUN 

Tickets for home games in the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs presented by Lexus are available now, as are 2024 Kelly Cup Playoff Packages, which include games in all four rounds. To learn more, please click HERE.

Season ticket plans for the 2024-25 campaign are on sale now! Become a Blades 365 Member for the 2024-25 season and enjoy incredible savings and benefits! To view the Blades 365 Membership savings, benefits, and options click HERE. 

Group Packages are available for a group of 10 or more! Everblades put 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. 

Grab the newest and hottest Everblades merchandise by checking out the entire collection that is available online by visiting shop.floridaeverblades.com or at the Hertz Arena Pro Shop! 

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