SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Florida Everblades completed a sweep over the Savannah Ghost Pirates posting a decisive 5-2 victory Friday night at Enmarket Arena. 

Both teams skated through a scoreless opening 20 minutes despite several quality chances on both sides. Savannah came out firing, recording three of the game’s first four shots, but Cam Johnson was equal to the challenge, keeping the hosts off the board. Florida responded by finding its legs, generating the next five shots of the period, but Vinnie Purpura was sharp, turning each aside.

The Everblades earned the game’s first power play just over six minutes in when Noah Carroll was whistled for boarding. Anthony Romano generated Florida’s best opportunity on the man advantage following a defensive zone turnover but was unable to convert.

Florida’s penalty kill answered on its first test midway through the frame after Craig Needham was called for interference. Late in the period, Savannah returned to the power play with just under a minute remaining as Connor Doherty was sent off for hooking. Johnson came up with one final stop to close the period, denying Connor Gregga.

Overall, Florida controlled the pace of play, outshooting Savannah 13–8 in an energetic opening period.

Savannah pressured early in the middle frame, firing the first three shots on net, but Cam Johnson answered the call, continuing his strong start. An undisciplined penalty from Phip Waugh after the whistle for roughing halted the Ghost Pirates’ momentum, giving Florida its second power play of the night. 

Purpura kept the Everblades off the board, turning aside both shots on the man advantage. Moments after the penalty expired, Savannah generated a dangerous chance for Waugh that slipped through Johnson’s legs but rolled harmlessly wide.

At the 10:20 mark, Tarun Fizer broke the ice, snapping home his third goal of the postseason off a setup from Kyle Betts to jumpstart the Florida attack. Shortly after, Craig Needham nearly doubled the lead but rang a shot off the iron.

Savannah earned its third power play of the night with just over four minutes remaining as Connor Doherty was called for tripping. Florida’s penalty kill stood tall once again, anchored by Johnson, who turned aside four quality chances. With one second remaining on the penalty, Carson Gicewicz buried his fourth of the postseason to extend the lead. 

Johnson was perfect in the period, stopping all 13 shots he faced and sending Florida into the locker room with a 2-0 advantage heading into the third.

Florida capitalized on an early third-period power play as Jordan Sambrook blasted home his first of the postseason to give the Everblades a 3-0 lead. The Ghost Pirates continued their parade to the penalty box when Logan Drevitch was called for slashing, but Florida was unable to convert on the opportunity. Nicholas Zabaneh nearly cut into the deficit with a shorthanded chance, but Cam Johnson stood tall to preserve the three-goal advantage. 

Cole Moberg extended the lead to four with 10:58 remaining, drifting a long shot through traffic and past Vinnie Purpura. Trailing by four, Savannah pulled its goaltender with just under nine minutes left following an Anthony Romano goaltender interference penalty. However, a penalty to Connor Gregga forced Purpura back into the net, and neither side capitalized with the extra skater.

Savannah made things interesting late, striking twice in 39 seconds as Matt Koopman and Phip Waugh found the back of the net to cut the lead to 4-2.

Zach Berzolla sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 1:32 remaining, restoring Florida’s three-goal cushion and closing out a 5-2 victory in Game 4.

Johnson was stellar between the pipes, stopping 34 of 36 shots to backstop Florida into the second round of the playoffs.

Game Sheet

Blades Bites

Tarun Fizer’s first goal of the game marked the third time in the series Fizer scored the game’s first goal.

Florida scored first in all four games of the series.

Cam Johnson surrendered just four goals throughout the series making 107 saves on 111 shots. 

The Everblades swept their first-round opponent for the second consecutive season.

Three of Florida’s five goals came from defenseman in their Game 4 victory.