Senden Scores a Pair, Blades Open Eastern Conference Final With 2-1 Win

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. – Mark Senden scored two goals and Florida Everblades were a perfect seven-for-seven on the penalty kill as the Blades defeated the Adirondack Thunder 2-1 in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals 
Friday night at Cool Insuring Arena. With the victory, Florida jumped out to a 1-0 series lead in the third round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs presented by Germain Lexus and Scanlon Lexus

A physical first period saw each team get on the board during a 2:12 span just past the middle of the frame. Senden got the scoring started for the Everblades with his third goal of the postseason to give Florida a 1-0 lead at 11:54 of the first. Bobo Carpenter started the rush out of the Everblades’ zone, found Cam Darcy down the right side, and Darcy fed Senden on a centering pass with his shot ultimately going in the net off an Adirondack defender. Ryan Smith answered for the Thunder at 14:06, tying the game at 1-1. 

It appeared as if the 1-1 lead would hold up into the second intermission, due in large part to the Everblades killing off three separate Adirondack power plays, but Senden had other ideas, scoring his second goal of the contest with 1:52 to play in the middle stanza. Senden’s fourth playoff goal came in traffic off assists from defensemen Will Reilly and Cole Moberg. 

Florida killed four more Adirondack power plays in the scoreless third period and goaltender Cam Johnson made 10 saves in the final frame to seal the victory. Johnson turned aside 21 of 22 shots on the night, his lowest save total of the playoff to earn his ninth win of the postseason.

On the night, the Blades outshot the Thunder by a commanding 31-22 margin, including a 12-6 edge in the first period and an 11-6 advantage in the middle frame.

Game Two will be played in Glens Falls Saturday night at 7:00 p.m., before the series shifts to Hertz Arena for as many as three games. In Estero, Game Three is slated for Wednesday, May 22, while Game Four will take place on Friday, May 24. The puck drops on both games at 7:30 p.m. Should Game Five be needed, it would 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

With two goals, Mark Senden chalked up his second two-point effort of the playoffs. Previously, Senden had a goal and an assist in the Everblades’ 5-1 triumph over Orlando in Game Two of the South Division Finals on May 3. Senden also had a two-goal game in the regular season, as he found the net twice in a 5-1 victory at South Carolina on March 1

Senden’s two-goal performance came in the second straight 2-1 victory for the Everblades. In both wins, one player scored both goals for Florida. Bobo Carpenter did the honors in the Blades’ overtime win in the Orlando series clincher

Cole Moberg picked up his third assist in the last two games. In addition to picking up two helpers in Florida’s series clincher over Orlando last Saturday, Moberg registered a pair of assists on one occasion during the regular season, turning the trick in the Blades’ 4-0 victory over South Carolina on December 8.

The victory was the Everblades’ fourth straight win over the Thunder, as the Blades previously swept a three-game set from Adirondack at Hertz Arena on February 7, 9, and 10. Including a 4-1-1 mark versus Adirondack during the regular season, the Everblades are 2-1-1 at Cool Insuring Arena in 2023-24.

Neither the Everblades nor the opposition were able to convert on the power play for the fourth straight game.

Friday Night’s Scoresheet 

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