BLADES SHUTOUT ICEMEN TO ADVANCE

It takes four wins to advance in the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Wednesday night in North Florida, the Florida Everblades defeated the host Jacksonville Icemen 4-0 at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena to secured that fourth win, and completed an impressive comeback from a 3-1 series deficit to win the South Division Semifinal series 4-3.

Offensively, a four-goal second period – one night after scoring three goals in the middle frame – completed the Everblades’ comeback in the series and eliminated the second-seeded Icemen for the third straight postseason.

Defensively, Cam Johnson made 27 saves in his first shutout of the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs and the ninth postseason shutout of his Everblades career.

With the first-round series in the books, the Blades now move onto the South Division Finals, in which the squad will hold home-ice advantage over the Orlando Solar Bears.

All of the offense came in the second period, as the Everblades scored three goals in a span of 4:02 to take control of the decisive game with a 3-0 lead. Will Reilly (2:24), Sean Josling (4:36) and Cam Darcy (6:26) did the damage as the good guys erupted in the middle frame for the second straight night. Cole Moberg added a shorthanded goal at the 18:48 mark as the Blades pulled ahead 4-0, a lead that would stand the rest of the way.

Oliver Chau and Logan Lambdin both registered two assists, while Reilly also added an assist for a two-point night. Josh Ho-Sang and Todd Skirving also had assists for the Everblades.