Cam Johnson stopped all 27 shots on goal and earned his first shutout of the ECHL's Kelly Cup Playoffs as the Florida Everblades punched their ticket to the second round for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.
The defending Kelly Cup champion Florida Everblades are back in the Division Finals for the sixth time in the last seven non-COVID-impacted seasons.
Florida goaltender Cam Johnson stopped all 27 shots on goal, including 14 in the second period. Meanwhile, the Everblades offense, similar to Game 6, erupted in the middle frame. Florida scored three goals in a 6:02 span, en route to four goals in the period overall.
Will Reilly opened the scoring at the 2:24 mark of the frame after Josh Ho-Sang dished a saucer pass to the slot, where Reilly briefly lost track of the puck before whacking it into the Jacksonville net.
Sean Josling followed with his second goal of the playoffs, burying a slapshot from the ring-wing circle after the initial shot on goal was kicked back out.
Cam Darcy made it a 3-0 Florida lead moments later after Logan Lambdin found his teammate on the backdoor tap-in.
Johnson made a tremendous save to keep a clean sheet with just over three minutes left in the second period. After Florida turned it over in its own zone, Jacksonville had a 2-on-0 chance, but the Everblades netminder made the stop.
Just over one minute left in the middle frame, defenseman Cole Moberg found the back of the net for the second straight game, wristing a shot from the high slot.
With the win, the Florida Everblades will face the Orlando Solar Bears in the South Division Finals. Orlando finished off Greenville in six games.
Florida wins series 4-3
Game 1 – Florida 0 at JACKSONVILLE 4
Game 2 – FLORIDA 2 at Jacksonville 1 (OT)
Game 3 – JACKSONVILLE 4 at Florida 3 (OT)
Game 4 – JACKSONVILLE 5 at Florida 0
Game 5 – Jacksonville 1 at FLORIDA 3
Game 6 – FLORIDA 4 at Jacksonville 1
Game 7 – FLORIDA 4 at Jacksonville 0
Highlights