SAVANNAH, Ga. – Carson Gicewicz scored a pair of goals and the Florida Everblades are in firm control of the ECHL South Division Semifinals after a 3-1 victory over the Savannah Ghost Pirates in Game Three of the Wednesday night at Enmarket Arena. Florida leads the best-of-seven series three games to none, with a chance to close out series in Game Four on Friday night.

The first-ever playoff game played at Enmarket Arena saw the Everblades and Ghost Pirates play to a scoreless opening period for the first time in the series. Florida created numerous good looks throughout the first 20 minutes and claimed a 11-7 advantage in shots on goal, but were unable to get the puck past Savannah goaltender Vinnie Purpura. The Blades enjoyed two different power plays late in the period, but could not capture an early lead. 

Business picked up quickly in the second period, as Tarun Fizer gave the Everblades a 1-0 lead for the third straight game in the series. Fizer’s second tally of the playoffs came at 2:14 off a blast from the low right circle with Jesse Lansdell and Kyle Betts picking up the assists.

Unfortunately for the Everblades, Savannah’s Noah Carroll knotted the game midway through the middle frame, striking from the blue line at the 9:57 mark and giving the home team new life.

But four minutes later, Gicewicz regained the lead for the Blades, taking a pass from Riese Zmolek, spinning in the slot and depositing his second goal of the postseason at 14:03 for a 2-1 lead. Despite several juicy scoring opportunities for the Blades in the closing minutes, the one-goal advantage carried into the second intermission. Florida outshot Savannah 12-7 in the penalty-free middle frame.

The Everblades applied heavy offensive pressure throughout the third period looking for an insurance goal. It finally came with 68 seconds to play as Gicewicz scored an empty-net goal, his second marker of the game and third of the playoffs to close out the 3-1 victory. Florida dominated the shot tally 8-5 in the third period and 32-19 for the contest.

Cam Johnson stopped 18 of 19 shots and earned the win in between the pipes for the Everblades, while Purpura registered 29 saves and suffered the loss for Savannah.

Game Four is slated for Friday night in Savannah at 7:00 p.m. Should Game Five be necessary, it would be played Saturday evening in Savannah. If needed, Games Six and Seven would be played at Hertz Arena on Monday, May 4 and Tuesday, May 5, respectively, with both puck drops scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Visit floridaeverblades.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

 

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BLADES BITS

The Everblades’ have a 3-0 series lead in the South Division Semifinals for the second straight year. Last season, Florida claimed a three-games-to-none lead over Jacksonville before closing out the series with a 4-3 Game Four overtime victory in North Florida. All four Blades victories in the series sweep required overtime.

With an assist on Tarun Fizer’s opening goal, Kyle Betts registered a point in the third-straight game of the playoffs. Betts assisted on Fizer’s game-winner in Game One and potted the first goal in Game Two.

Carson Gicewicz scored for the second straight game, with Everblades captain Oliver Chau picking up an assist on all three of Gicewicz’s postseason tallies.

Through the first three games of the series, the Everblades have outscored the Ghost Pirates 9-2, while outshooting Savannah 106-74.

Wednesday Night’s Scoresheet 

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