ORLANDO, Fla. – Different venue. Same result.

Less than 24 hours removed from raising a fifth Kelly Cup championship banner and claiming a season-opening 3-1 win over the Orlando Solar Bears Saturday at Hertz Arena, the Florida Everblades picked up another victory over their in-state rivals, this one by a 5-1 count Sunday evening at Kia Center.   

Florida struck first for the second-straight game, as newcomer Mark Estapa buried the puck from the left circle to claim a 1-0 lead with the Everblades’ first power-play goal of the young season just 5:43 into the contest. Estapa converted a Tyson Dyck feed from below the goal line, with Broten Sabo also picking up a helper.

Making his first appearance of the season, Tyler Duke saw his first professional goal double the Blades’ lead to 2-0 just over six minutes later, only one second removed from being Florida’s second power-play marker of the game. Veterans Craig Needham and Jordan Sambrook earning the assists on Duke’s blast from just above the left circle. Florida’s 2-0 lead held up into the first intermission after the Blades outshot their hosts 19-5 over the first 20 minutes.

Orlando got one goal back just 1:35 into the middle period on a power-play goal by Brendan Harris, but Florida would regain its two-goal advantage late in the frame on Estapa’s second goal of the contest. Estapa connected from the sharp angle, with Tiernan Shoudy claiming the assist for his first point as a member of the Blades. Another dominant period in the shot department by a 14-6 tune saw Florida remain on top 3-1 after 40 minutes.

The Everblades kept rolling into the third period as Isaac Nurse got in on the action, making it 4-1 with his first goal of the season, a four-on-four tally at 3:29 of the final frame. Needham picked up his second assist of the game, while Duke picked up his second point of the contest with the secondary helper.

Dyck tacked on another power-play goal, his first pro goal, to extend the Blades’ lead to 5-1 at 15:28 of the third. Estapa closed out a three-point night with an assist, while Devon Paliani also tacked on a helper. 

Goaltender Cam Johnson registered 17 saves and was a winner for the second straight game for the Everblades. Florida outshot Orlando 44-18 in the game.

With the short trip to Central Florida in the rear-view mirror, the Everblades will return to Hertz Arena for the next two games on the schedule as the Atlanta Gladiators skate into town for a pair on Friday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 24 at 7:00 p.m. Visit floridaeverblades.com for more information and to purchase tickets.

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BLADES BITS

 

Mark Estapa notched his first two goals in an Everblades sweater, starting the scoring in the opening minutes of Sunday’s tilt and adding another in the waning moments of the second frame. A year ago, the University of Michigan product registered seven ECHL goals with the Trois-Rivières Lions.

An unlikely Ohio State-Michigan tandem teamed up on the Everblades’ first goal of the night, as Ohio State product Broten Sabo picked up an assist on Michigan alum Estapa’s tally one night after scoring his first professional goal in Saturday’s home opener. The combo helped the Everblades convert on the power play for the first time this season.

Interestingly enough, Tyler Duke – who added his first pro goal moments after Estapa got things started – played for both Michigan and Ohio State. Duke saw 40 games of action for the Buckeyes in 2022-23 and played in 107 contests with the Wolverines across the next three seasons. 

Isaac Nurse’s third-period goal was his first tally since his double-overtime Kelly Cup clincher in Game Six of the 2026 Finals.

Tiernan Shoudy’s assist on Estapa’s second goal was his first point with the Everblades, while Tyson Dyck also registered his first pro goal.

Sunday’s victory stretched the Everblades’ winning streak over the Solar Bears to eight games. Florida has also won the last eight meetings between the clubs played in Orlando. The last setback that the Blades suffered at Kia Center was a 5-4 overtime loss on February 2, 2025.

Sunday Night’s Scoresheet

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