Blades Take on Stingrays with Playoffs up for Grabs

ESTERO, Fla. – The Florida Everblades are on the precipice of playoff hockey after four consecutive wins. They’ll have the opportunity to punch their ticket tonight against the South Carolina Stingray. Game time for the regular season’s penultimate game is on Friday, April 12 at 7:30 at Hertz Arena. 

The Everblades skated into Wednesday’s matchup against the Jacksonville Icemen having only beaten their northern rivals once this season. Despite the margin across the campaign, Florida dominated wire-to-wire and took the game 5-2. Will Reilly, Oliver Chau, Bobo Carpenter (2), and Jesse Lansdell all potted goals in the win. The victory was the Blades' fourth straight and lifted them to 85 points, putting them in third place in the South Divison, ahead of the Stingrays. 

Unlike Wednesday night, Orlando will play on Friday against the Reading Royals. Because of the win on Wednesday, several scenarios exist where the Everblades could clinch a playoff spot on Friday. The Blades are back in the playoffs if…

1. Florida wins in regulation
2. Florida wins in OT or a shootout, and any Orlando loss. 
3. Florida loses in OT or a shootout, and Orlando loses in regulation. 

Accounting for the maximum number of points available to either team and tiebreakers, those three scenarios would land Florida in the dance. 

The South Carolina Stingrays haven’t played since last weekend when they earned a 5-3 win over Jacksonville on Saturday. South Carolina’s talent is displayed in forward Austin Magera, who was named to the ECHL All-Rookie Team and  ECHL All-Second Team earlier this week. The Stingrays will be battling for their playoff lives this weekend, as only one point separates themselves and the Solar Bears in the fourth and final playoff spot. 

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