Blades Resume Playoff Run in New York

ESTERO, Fla. –  For the third consecutive year and the ninth time in organization history, the Florida Everblades will be appearing in the ECHL Eastern Conference Finals, as the Kelly Cup Playoffs presented by Germain Lexus and Scanlon Lexus are down to just four teams.

As the journey towards an unprecedented third consecutive Kelly Cup is at the midpoint – eight wins down and eight wins to go – the Everblades face a stiff test in the Eastern Conference Finals, as the Adirondack Thunder stand in the Blades’ way of a third straight appearance in the Kelly Cup Finals.

Before defeating the Orlando Solar Bears four games to one in the South Division Finals, the Everblades had just two days between Game Seven of the South Division Semifinals against the Jacksonville Icemen and Game One of the Orlando series. After needing just five games to eliminate the Solar Bears, the Everblades will have had six days off before starting the Eastern Conference Finals against Adirondack on Friday, May 17.

Adirondack will host the first two games of the best-of-seven series at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls, N.Y., on Friday, May 17 and Saturday, May 18. Both games are slated for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop. The series will shift to Hertz Arena for Games Three, Four and Five (if necessary) on May 22, 24 and 25. Adirondack would host Games Six and Seven on May 28 and 29 if needed.

Just as the Everblades defeated Jacksonville in seven games and topped Orlando in five games to move through the South Division in the postseason, Adirondack had a slightly longer path through the North Division. The Thunder opened the playoffs eliminating Maine in seven games in the opening round and topping Norfolk in six games. Florida outscored its postseason opponents 35-27, while Adirondack posted a nearly identical 35-28 scoring edge.

The Everblades and Thunder faced off six times during the 2023-24 regular season, with the Everblades posting a 4-1-1 record in those head-to-head meetings. From November 29 through December 9, the Blades went 1-1-1 in games played in Glens Falls. Following a 4-3 win in the series opener, Florida dropped decisions by scores of 5-3 and 1-0 in overtime. The Everblades followed by sweeping a three-game set in Estero February 7-10, posting three victories by a combined 13-5 margin, winning those contests 6-3, 4-1, and 3-1.  

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

Winners of eight of 12 games in the 2024 postseason, the Everblades have won and ECHL-record 10 consecutive series in the Kelly Cup Playoffs dating back to the 2021-22 season. Florida is now two series victories away from becoming the first team in ECHL history to win three consecutive Kelly Cup Championships.

In six regular-season games versus Adirondack, 11 different Everblades scored goals, while 18 different Florida skaters tallied at least one point. Bobo Carpenter (3G, 3A) and Sean Josling (1G, 5A) led the team with six points, while Oliver Chau (4G, 1A) and Mark Senden (4G, 1A) led the way with four goals. Josling’s five helpers topped the squad.

Cam Johnson made five regular-season starts against the Thunder and posted a 4-0-1 record with 1.80 GAA and a .930 save percentage. Johnson appeared in 10 games for Adirondack back in 2018-19, tallying a 4-5-1 record with a 2.54 GAA in his first taste of ECHL competition. Johnson, the reigning back-to-back June M. Kelly Playoff Most Valuable Player, enters the Eastern Conference Finals with a career postseason record of 39-10-3 and a 2.00 GAA in 52 starts, all with the Everblades.

All-time, the Everblades hold a 7-5-2 record against Adirondack in 14 regular-season games. The teams have met in one postseason series, with Florida taking the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals four games to one.

Bobo Carpenter’s two goals in the South Division Finals Game Five clincher were his first in the series and gave him five goals this postseason, tied with Sean Josling for the team lead. With 10 points in the playoffs, Carpenter (5G, 5A) is tied with Josh Ho-Sang (10A) and Matt Wedman (3G, 7A) for the team lead through 12 games. Carpenter is one of seven Everblades that scored two goals in the Orlando series and tied Ho-Sang for the series points lead with six.

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JOIN THE FUN 

Tickets for home games in the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs presented by Germain Lexus and Scanlon Lexus are available now, as are 2024 Kelly Cup Playoff Packages, which include games in all four rounds. To learn more, please click HERE.

Season ticket plans for the 2024-25 campaign are on sale now! Become a Blades 365 Member for the 2024-25 season and enjoy incredible savings and benefits! To view the Blades 365 Membership savings, benefits, and options click HERE. 

Group Packages are available for a group of 10 or more! Everblades put FUN in FUNdraising! There is no handling of money or tickets and no limit to the amount of money your group can make with the Everblades' easy-to-run online Fundraiser! For more information, or to reserve a Fundraiser Night at an Everblades regular- season home game, call or text (239) 948-7825. 

Grab the newest and hottest Everblades merchandise by checking out the entire collection that is available online by visiting shop.floridaeverblades.com or at the Hertz Arena Pro Shop! 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

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