Takeaways From Game 1 Action Of Kelly Cup Division Finals
Photo Courtesy of the Florida Everblades
Three of the four Division Finals series got underway Friday, with some games featuring goaltending duels and others slugging it out on offense.
Here are takeaways from the action.
No Overtime Necessary
The Florida Everblades won each of their four games in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs in sudden-death overtime. They became the first team in ECHL post-season history to sweep a four-game series by winning each in OT.
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So what would happen if the defending Kelly Cup champions were given a big lead?
That question was answered in Game 1 of the South Division Finals Friday against the Orlando Solar Bears at Hertz Arena.
The Blades built a 5-0 lead and hung on to win 5-3, taking the first game of the series.
Florida used a four-goal second period to jump on the Solar Bears, with five different skaters lighting the lamp in the game.
The Everblades grabbed the momentum in the first period when defenseman Cole Moberg fired in a one-timer from the right point at 5:38, giving Florida a 1-0 lead.
A power-play goal by Jesse Lansdell 1:34 into the second period extended the Everblades' lead to 2-0. They struck for three more goals in a 6:33 span to pull ahead 5-0. Jordan Sambrook, Colton Hargrove and Carson Gicewicz each potted goals to give their team what appeared to be a dominant lead.
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The Solar Bears tried to mount a comeback by scoring three unanswered goals of their own in the third period. Hudson Thornton scored at 1:25, Ara Nazarian added a tally at the 6:44 mark and Djibril Touré made the score 5-3 at 14:36.
Florida hung on, however, claiming the 5-3 victory to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Florida outshot Orlando 27-18, and Cam Johnson made 15 saves to improve to 5-0 in the playoffs. Orlando goalies Jon Gillies and Ryan Fanti logged 14 and eight saves, respectively.
Everblades Head Coach Brad Ralph picked up his 100th ECHL playoff win, becoming the first head coach to reach the century mark in Kelly Cup post-season play. Ralph is 100-58 all-time, including an 80-40 mark leading the Blades in the post-season.
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Game 2 is Saturday in Estero, with puck drop set for 7 Pm ET.
A First For Jones
Great goaltending was the story at Colisée Vidéotron in Trois-Rivieres between the Lions' Hunter Jones and the Norfolk Admirals' Thomas Milic.
It was Jones who got the better of the duel, stopping all 16 shots faced in a 1-0 thriller over the Admirals. Jones earned his first shutout in a Lions sweater, guiding his club to a 1-0 lead in the North Division Finals.
The Lions limited Norfolk to just two shots in the second period and took the lead during a 4-on-4 sequence on a goal by Xavier Cormier, his first of the post-season.
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Trois-Rivières maintained their defensive dominance in the third, successfully fending off a 6-on-5 situation late in the game.
Milic stood tall in his fifth consecutive playoff start, stopping 34 of 35 shots in a tough loss. Game 2 is Sunday afternoon in Trois-Rivieres, with puck drop set for 3 Pm ET.
Spectacular Spezia
On the opposite end of the scale, offense was the order of the night in Toledo, with the Walleye edging the Fort Wayne Komets 5-4 to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven Central Division Finals series.
It's been a tough last couple of months for Walleye forward Tyler Spezia, as he returned following an injury. His team was certainly glad to get him back, as Spezia earned two points on a goal and an assist.
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The Komets struck first on a Blake Murray goal at 8:30 of the opening period. The Walleye would even the score at the 12:12 mark as Colby Ambrosio got his first goal of the playoffs.
Toledo took the lead just 41 seconds later on a Colin Swoyer tally from the blue line. Spezia earned the secondary helper on the play.
At 14:20, Alex Aleardi tied the game back up 2-2 for Fort Wayne. The score remained that way headed into the first intermission.
The offense picked up with five goals between both sides in the middle frame. The Komets would restore their lead with an unassisted goal by Ethan Keppen.
Spezia would get his first playoff goal and tie the game 3-3 at 10:55.
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Fort Wayne went right back in front at 13:13 with Aleardi getting his second goal of the game. After that, it was all Toledo.
The Walleye took control in the final three minutes of the second period when Trenton Bliss tied the game 4-4 with a tip-in goal to the corner of the net, sneaking past Fort Wayne goaltender Nathaniel Day. Brandon Hawkins and Moulton tallied the assists on the play.
With just 16 seconds remaining in the period, Matt Anderson would give Toledo the lead, 5-4, which ended up being the game winner. Bliss and Hawkins picked up the apples.
The third period was playoff hockey at its best, featuring plenty of physicality and intense pressure on both sides.
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A called-off Fort Wayne goal and a late power play chance gave them every opportunity to tie this game. But the Fish fed off their home crowd's energy and held on for the win.
Game 2 is Saturday night at the Huntington Center, with puck drop scheduled for 7:15 Pm ET.
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