BLADES ROLL TO 6-3 WIN; LEAD SERIES 2-0

ESTERO, Fla. –  A three-goal first period set the stage, as the Florida Everblades led from wire-to-wire for the second straight night, defeating the Orlando Solar Bears 6-3 in Game Two of the South Division Finals in front of 5,667 energized fans Saturday night at Hertz Arena. The Everblades lead the best-of-seven series two games to none. 

In the Everblades’ highest-scoring game of the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs, six different Everblades had multiple points. Captain Joe Pendenza scored two goals and Cole Moberg recorded three points to lead the way. Three of the Blades’ six goals came on the power play. 

Repeating the team’s performance in Friday’s opening game, the Everblades jumped out to an early multi-goal lead, beating former Blades netminder Evan Fitzpatrick for three goals in a 7:14 span. Todd Skirving (6:51) opened the scoring with his first goal as an Everblade. Moberg (8:51) doubled the lead with his fourth tally of the playoffs, and Sean Josling (14:04) finished off the onslaught with his fifth goal of the postseason. Josling’s goal was his second power-play marker in as many nights.

While Orlando’s Jesse Jacques got the Solar Bears on the board with a power-play goal at 9:50 of the middle period, the Everblades would keep rolling, taking a 5-1 lead on goals by Pendenza (11:03) and Oliver Chau (13:14). Orlando’s Kevin Lombardi closed out the second period scoring at 13:29, as Florida took a 5-2 advantage into the second intermission.

Pendenza picked up his second goal and the Everblades’ third power-play goal, as Florida pulled ahead 6-2 at 6:12 of the third period. Orlando’s Mitchell Hoelscher closed out the scoring 17:51 with the Blades on top 6-3.

A winner for the fifth straight game, Cam Johnson made 27 saves in goal for the Blades. Fitzpatrick had 17 saves and suffered the loss for Orlando.

With a pair of Florida wins on home ice in hand, the series shifts to Kia Center in Orlando, where the Solar Bears will host Games Three, Four and Five (if necessary) on May 7, 9 and 12. Games Three and Four will begin at 7:00 p.m., while a possible Game Five would be at 3:00 p.m. Should the series require a Game Six or Game Seven, those contests would be played at Hertz Arena on May 14 and 15. Fans may purchase tickets for South Division Finals games that will be played at Hertz Arena at the Fifth Third Bank Box Office at Hertz Arena, online HERE, 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 to purchase tickets for games played at Hertz Arena. 

 

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BLADES BITS

Six Everblades notched multiple points in Game Two. Cole Moberg had three points a goal and two assists, Joe Pendenza scored two goals, Sean Josling had a goal and an assist, while Josh Ho-Sang, Matthew Wedman and Logan Lambdin recorded two assists apiece.

Todd Skirving’s picked up his first goal in an Everblades sweater since he was acquired from Newfoundland on April 6. Skirving score eight goals in 60 regular-season games with the Growlers this season and had a pair of assists with the Blades in four regular-season contests.

Cole Moberg’s fourth goal of the playoffs – in four straight games – leads all Everblades defensemen, while Will Reilly tops the blueline corps with six points and four helpers this postseason.

Sean Josling has points in five straight playoff games, goals in the last three contests and power-play tallies in the first two games of the Orlando series. His first period goal was the Everblades’ second power-play goal of the series after coming up empty on 14 man-up opportunities in the seven-game series versus Jacksonville.

Two of the Blades’ big guns got back on track in Game Two. Oliver Chau found the net for the first time this postseason, while Joe Pendenza scored two goals, his first tallies in six games.

One of eight Everblades with an assist in Game Two, Josh Ho-Sang extended his point streak to four games with two assists. Logan Lambdin, Matthew Wedman and Cole Moberg each registered a pair of assists.

Sixteen skaters on the Blades roster have at least one point in the series after two games. Eleven different Blades picked up at least one point in Game Two, one night after 10 different players registered at least one point in Game One.

Saturday Night’s Scoresheet 

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JOIN THE FUN 

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! 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

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, or online at espnswfl.com or everblades.mixlr.com. Stay up to date by following the Blades on social media with all the latest news, scores, and promotions on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and Twitter.