Blades Erupt Early and Cam Shuts out ADK in Game Three Win

ESTERO, Fla. – A three-goal first period coupled with Cam Johnson’s 10^th career playoff shutout in a Florida Everblades uniform was a winning combination, as the Everblades rolled to a 4-0 victory over the visiting Adirondack Thunder in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals Wednesday night at Hertz Arena, sending 5,959 loud and proud Blades fans home happy.

With the victory, the Everblades took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, as the Kelly Cup Playoffs presented by Germain Lexus and Scanlon Lexus continues with Game Four of the series Friday night at The Swamp. 

Two nights after suffering a shutout loss that evened the series at one game apiece, the Everblades erupted for three goals in the opening 15:24 to take the biggest lead enjoyed by either team in the series. 

Jordan Sambrook connected from the right point at 6:33 to start the Blades’ scoring run. Mark Senden added his third goal of the series, skating from center ice and connecting from the right circle at 12:38, while Matt Wedman capped off the busy frame with a shot from the left circle for the team’s first power-play goal of the series at 15:24. Florida dominated the shot department with a 14-4 advantage on the way to a dominant 3-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Following a scoreless second period, Bobo Carpenter closed out the 4-0 victory, scoring an empty-net goal with 70 seconds left in the game.

On the night, the Everblades outshot the Thunder 32-26. In a matchup of the ECHL’s top goaltenders this postseason, Johnson stopped every shot he faced to reach double digits in postseason shutouts – all with the Blades. For Adirondack, Isaac Poulter suffered the loss and made 20 saves before being pulled at the start of the third period. Backup netminder Jeremy Brodeur made seven saves in the final frame.

Six different players registered helpers for the Everblades, led by Josh Ho-Sang and Oliver Chau, both of whom picked up two of the Blades’ eight assists on the night.

With the Everblades holding a two-games-to-one advantage, two more contests in this series will be played in the coming days at Hertz Arena. Game Four will take place on Friday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m., while Game Five will be played on Saturday, May 25 at 7:00 p.m. If necessary, Adirondack would host Games Six and Seven on Tuesday, May 28 and Wednesday, May 29.

Tickets for Eastern Conference Finals games that will be played at Hertz Arena are on sale online by clicking HERE or in-person at the Fifth Third Bank Box Office at Hertz Arena or by calling the Everblades office at 239-948-PUCK.

Visit floridaeverblades.com for more information on the Kelly Cup Playoffs presented by Germain Lexus and Scanlon Lexus and to purchase tickets for games played at Hertz Arena. 

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BLADES BITS

Cam Johnson picked up his second shutout of the 2024 postseason, as he is halfway to the four clean sheets he registered in both the 2022 and 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Those back-to-back four shutout postseasons earned Johnson consecutive June M. Kelly Playoffs Most Valuable Player Awards.

Jordan Sambrook’s opening goal snapped the Everblades’ scoreless string of 88:25 – more than four full periods – and got Florida on the board for the first time since Mark Senden’s second-period game-winner in Game One.

Senden’s first-period goal gave him a series-leading three goals. The rookie scored three of the Blades’ first four goals in the series.

Matt Wedman’s power-play goal in the opening frame was the Everblades’ first man-up goal since Game Two of the South Division Finals, a 6-3 win over Orlando in the series that Florida eventually won in five games. In that contest, Sean Josling and Joe Pendenza potted power-play tallies in the first and second periods, respectively.

With a pair of first-period assists on the goals by Mark Senden and Matt Wedman, Josh Ho-Sang ran his ECHL-leading postseason total to 12 helpers, taking sole possession of the league’s top spot. Ho-Sang leads the Everblades with 12 points in the Kelly Cup Playoffs presented by Germain Lexus and Scanlon Lexus – all by way of the helper.

The energized crowd of 5,959 was the second largest home attendance of the 2024 postseason, trailing only the throng of 6,180 who came out to see Game Two of the opening round versus Jacksonville on Friday, April 26.

Wednesday Night’s Scoresheet 

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Tickets for home games in the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs presented by Germain Lexus and Scanlon 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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