WHO: Florida Everblades (1^st South) vs. South Carolina Stingrays (2^nd South)

SERIES TIED 0-0 

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ESTERO, Fla. – After completing a sweep over the Savannah Ghost Pirates in the opening round the Florida Everblades have punched their ticket to the South Division finals for the fifth consecutive season when they welcome the South Carolina Stingrays to Hertz Arena. 

The Everblades and Stingrays will continue their storied rivalry as they clash for the ninth time in the postseason with the winner advancing as far as the Kelly Cup finals in seven of the previous eight series. Both organizations have combined for seven Kelly Cups while splitting the previous eight playoff series four wins apiece. 

The two sides last met during the opening round of the 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs when Florida defeated South Carolina in six games on the way to its second consecutive Kelly Cup championship. The last postseason meeting between the clubs in the South Division Finals came during the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs when the Stingrays captured the series in five games.

Florida enters the series off six days rest following a dominant series over Savannah holding the Ghost Pirates to four goals in their first-round matchup. South Carolina has advanced after ousting the Atlanta Gladiators in six games following a 3-1 victory Monday night. 

Despite leading the league with 26 home wins in the regular season, South Carolina enjoyed their opening round success on the road winning all three of their road meetings while finishing 1-1-1 at home in their first round series. The Stingrays feature the leading goal scorer in the postseason in Charlie Combs who found the back of the net six times and have three different skaters who recorded six points or more in round one. Carson Gicewicz meanwhile paces the Florida attack scoring four goals and five points against Savannah. 

In goal, Cam Johnson picked up where he left off posting a 4-0 record with a 1.00 goals-against average and his .963 save percentage was second-best. On the other side, Garin Bjorkland had the goaltending duties going 4-2 with a 2.01 goals-against average and .930 save percentage. 

Both sides feature top penalty kills with Florida successfully defending all nine penalty kills in the first round while South Carolina was fourth best at 91.3 percent (21/23). On the power play both clubs converted just two power play goals with Florida going 2-for-12 while South Carolina finished 2-for-16. 

Florida controlled the season series during the regular season posting a 5-0-1 mark in six meetings against the Stingrays including a perfect 4-0 record at Hertz Arena. 

The series begins tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET with Game 2 set for 7:00 p.m. Saturday night before the series swings to South Carolina. 

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