Blades Shoot for Commanding Lead in ECF

ESTERO, Fla. – After a dominant 4-0 shutout win on Wednesday night, the Florida Everblades look to extend their lead in the Eastern Conference Finals in Game Four. Opening faceoff between Adirondack and Florida on Friday, May 24 is set for 7:30 p.m. at Hertz Arena. 

In Game Three, the Blades use a three-goal first period to take a controlling presence in the contest. Jordan Sambrook, Mark Senden, and Matt Wedman gave the Blades the trifecta first. There was no scoring in the middle frame, but Bobo Carpenter added an empty netter in the third to seal the game. After being blanked in Game Two, Florida had only managed two goals in the first 120 minutes of the series but doubled that goal total in Game Three alone. 

Mark Senden’s goal continues a blistering streak of play. The Minnesotan has three goals in the first three games of this series. Cam Johnson has also been a massive factor for Florida, allowing just three goals so far, and securing his 10th career Everblades playoff shutout on Wednesday. 

The Everblades finally snapped the power-play goal drought that had plagued them since Game Three against the Solar Bears – five games. That breakthrough came on Wedman’s goal late in the first period, as Adirondack served a roughing minor. Florida was 1-8 on the man advantage and 2-2 on penalty kills. 

Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals will be played tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. right here in Estero. Be sure to wear blue for all home games in the Third Round of the postseason!

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.

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! 

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