PIPELINE: Everblades look to go back-to-back in Kelly Cup Finals

Does finishing fourth in the division, numerous playoff overtime wins, and defeating three of the best teams in the Eastern Conference in the playoffs sound familiar?

Across the state, the Florida Everblades have kicked off play in the Kelly Cup Finals against the Idaho Steelheads. The Everblades reached the Final after beating the Newfoundland Growlers is six games in the ECHL's Eastern Conference Final, capping off the series with a 3-2 double overtime win in Game 6.

This is Florida's third Kelly Cup Finals appearance since 2018, as they look to win back-to-back titles and become the fifth team in ECHL history to do so. Since 1998, the Everblades have only failed to miss the playoffs one time (2013-2014).

Following their 2022 Kelly Cup win, the Everblades, who are in their first season as the ECHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers, finished the 2022-23 season fourth in the South Division, with forward Joe Pendenza leading the way in scoring with 62 points (24 goals, 38 assists) in 63 games.

On their path to this year's Kelly Cup, the Everblades have eliminated the South Division winners South Carolina Stingrays (second best record in Eastern Conference), the Jacksonville Icemen (third best record in Eastern Conference), and the Newfoundland Growlers (first in Eastern Conference), all in six games.

During that stretch, goalie Cam Johnson posted 12 wins, three shutouts, and a .919 save percentage. Scoring depth has also played a key in the run with ten skaters racking up double digit points, including 15 points from both Sean Josling (8 goals, 7 assists) and Oliver Chau (6 goals, 9 assists) prior to the Kelly Cup Final.

Through the first two games against the Steelheads, who posted the best regular-season record in ECHL history (58-11-1-2), the Everblades were able to steal game one Saturday by a score of 3-2 in OT, with the game winner from Chau. Florida then followed that up with a 5-3 win on Sunday, with two goals coming from Logan Lambdin, to take a commanding 2-0 series lead before bringing the series back to Estero.

The Everblades will look to get another win closer to raising the Kelly Cup in Game 3 on Wednesday.

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Photo courtesy of the Florida Everblades