ECHL: Atlanta Says Alive in Kelly Cup; Everblades Advance with Sweep

The Florida Everblades completed a sweep over the Savannah Ghost Pirates posting a decisive 5-2 victory Friday night at Enmarket Arena.The Atlanta Gladiators defeated the South Carolina Stingrays 3-2 in double overtime of Game 5 of the South Division Semifinals to force a Game 6 at Gas South Arena.

In Georgia Joey Cipollone buried the game winning goal 9:44 into the second overtime to keep the Gladiators’ season alive.

Facing elimination after a heartbreaking 4-3 loss on Tuesday night, the Gladiators looked to carve out a win on the road to extend the series. Ethan Haider started in net for the Gladiators after starting in games 1 and 3, while Garin Bjorklund made his fifth consecutive start in the series.

The Stingrays attempted to push the pace right off the opening faceoff, but Haider and the Gladiators were ready. After holding South Carolina off the board in the first couple of minutes, Atlanta turned up the ice and began to pepper Bjorklund with shots.

The first penalties of the game were roughing minors to Ben Hawerchuk and Alex Young with 5:11 left in the opening frame, setting up four on four action. The open ice benefitted the Gladiators, as Adam Eisele fired in his 4th of the series from Cam Gaudette and Joey Cipollone to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead with 3:40 left in the period. A right wing shot from the circle off a swift zone entry led to the opening goal. Atlanta held the lead after 20 minutes of play, outshooting South Carolina 12-8.

South Carolina responded in the second period and did it quickly, tying the game 1:58 in. Charlie Combs created a turnover with a strong forecheck and centered a pass for Ludwig Persson who buried the tying goal. Persson’s first goal of the series was assisted by Combs and Stan Cooley. The Gladiators had a power play late in the period but came up empty handed. Both goaltenders continued to put on a show as the game was tied 1-1 heading into the third period. South Carolina outshot Atlanta 14-7 in the second frame, but Haider was sensational in net to keep the puck out.

Atlanta took the lead for the second time just 4:05 into the third period. Ryan Conroy pelted in a loose puck at the left circle to make it a 2-1 game, with the assist going to Alex Young. The Stingrays roared back 5:14 later with a power play goal from Charlie Combs to make it a 2-2 tie. Combs’ goal came on a pass from below the goal line to the slot, with assists going to Josh Wilkins and Connor Moore. Haider and Bjorklund continued to duel as time dwindled down on regulation.

With about a minute to go, Isak Walther was hooked on his way to the net by D.J. King, setting up a Gladiators power play. Bjorklund found a way to keep it out and the game went to overtime tied at 2-2. Through regulation, Atlanta outshot South Carolina 29-27.

In the first overtime session, both teams exchanged opportunities but neither netminder was ready to go home. Haider and Bjorklund continued to make save after save as the overtime session went on.

Isak Walther had a tremendous chance but was robbed by Bjorklund, and the Gladiators rang a puck off the goalpost three times in the first overtime. An extra frame wasn’t enough, so the game progressed to a second overtime. At long last, Joey Cipollone swept in a loose puck off a shot from Josh Davies behind Bjorklund 9:44 into the second overtime period to win the game for the Gladiators and force Game 6 on Monday night at Gas South Arena.

Cipollone’s first goal of the postseason couldn’t have come at a better time and was the first playoff winning overtime goal for the Gladiators since 4/16/2009, when Tom Zanoski scored the game winner in a 3-2 OTW in Game 3 of the South Division Semifinals. The Gladiators win  snapped a five-game losing streak in playoff games decided in overtime. The final run time of the game was 3 hours and 43 minutes, with the Gladiators outshooting the Stingrays 47-37.

Haider and Bjorklund had a duel for the ages, with the Gladiators netminder stopping 35/37 for his first career playoff win, and the Stingrays’ 44/47. Atlanta went 0/3 on the power play and 1/2 on the penalty kill in the thrilling double overtime victory.

The Florida Everblades and Savannah Ghost Pirates skated through a scoreless opening 20 minutes despite several quality chances on both sides. Savannah came out firing, recording three of the game’s first four shots, but Cam Johnson was equal to the challenge, keeping the hosts off the board. Florida responded by finding its legs, generating the next five shots of the period, but Vinnie Purpura was sharp, turning each aside.

The Everblades earned the game’s first power play just over six minutes in when Noah Carroll was whistled for boarding. Anthony Romano generated Florida’s best opportunity on the man advantage following a defensive zone turnover but was unable to convert.

Florida’s penalty kill answered on its first test midway through the frame after Craig Needham was called for interference. Late in the period, Savannah returned to the power play with just under a minute remaining as Connor Doherty was sent off for hooking. Johnson came up with one final stop to close the period, denying Connor Gregga.

Overall, Florida controlled the pace of play, outshooting Savannah 13–8 in an energetic opening period.

Savannah pressured early in the middle frame, firing the first three shots on net, but Cam Johnson answered the call, continuing his strong start. An undisciplined penalty from Phip Waugh after the whistle for roughing halted the Ghost Pirates’ momentum, giving Florida its second power play of the night.

Purpura kept the Everblades off the board, turning aside both shots on the man advantage. Moments after the penalty expired, Savannah generated a dangerous chance for Waugh that slipped through Johnson’s legs but rolled harmlessly wide.

At the 10:20 mark, Tarun Fizer broke the ice, snapping home his third goal of the postseason off a setup from Kyle Betts to jumpstart the Florida attack. Shortly after, Craig Needham nearly doubled the lead but rang a shot off the iron.

Savannah earned its third power play of the night with just over four minutes remaining as Connor Doherty was called for tripping. Florida’s penalty kill stood tall once again, anchored by Johnson, who turned aside four quality chances. With one second remaining on the penalty, Carson Gicewicz buried his fourth of the postseason to extend the lead.

Johnson was perfect in the period, stopping all 13 shots he faced and sending Florida into the locker room with a 2-0 advantage heading into the third.

Florida capitalized on an early third-period power play as Jordan Sambrook blasted home his first of the postseason to give the Everblades a 3-0 lead. The Ghost Pirates continued their parade to the penalty box when Logan Drevitch was called for slashing, but Florida was unable to convert on the opportunity. Nicholas Zabaneh nearly cut into the deficit with a shorthanded chance, but Cam Johnson stood tall to preserve the three-goal advantage.

Cole Moberg extended the lead to four with 10:58 remaining, drifting a long shot through traffic and past Vinnie Purpura. Trailing by four, Savannah pulled its goaltender with just under nine minutes left following an Anthony Romano goaltender interference penalty. However, a penalty to Connor Gregga forced Purpura back into the net, and neither side capitalized with the extra skater.

Savannah made things interesting late, striking twice in 39 seconds as Matt Koopman and Phip Waugh found the back of the net to cut the lead to 4-2.

Zach Berzolla sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 1:32 remaining, restoring Florida’s three-goal cushion and closing out a 5-2 victory in Game 4.

Johnson was stellar between the pipes, stopping 34 of 36 shots to backstop Florida into the second round of the playoffs.