HERE WE GO AGAIN!
For the eighth time in the eight-year existence of the Florida Everblades, the franchise is headed to the ECHL’S Kelly Cup playoffs.
When last we left the ECHL postseason, the Everblades were skating off the Germain Arena ice as the Trenton Titans skated off with the Kelly Cup and the ECHL Championship.
So just to refresh your memory… we’ll prepare for this season’s Kelly Cup run with a quick recap of how the 2005 ECHL Playoffs went for the Florida Everblades.
Be sure to check back all throughout the 2006 playoffs as we keep tabs on the Everblades as they once again look to chase down the Kelly Cup!
2005 Florida Everblades Postseason Recap:
-The 2005 Kelly Cup playoffs seemed to fall perfectly for the ‘Blades. As each round unfolded, higher seed after higher seed was upset, leaving the Blades with a progressively easier road to the Cup Finals. Pensacola, Columbia and Reading were all seeded ahead of, or had earned more points than Florida… but all fell along the wayside in the opening rounds.
-The ‘Blades were relatively untested in the opening two rounds, downing South Carolina in four games (in a Best-of-5 series) then sweeping Greenville in another Best of 5 thanks to overtime wins in games two and three.
-In the American Conference Final, the ‘Blades finally got a fight from Charlotte. The teams traded wins through the first four games of the Best-of-7 series until the Everblades won Game 5 in a 5-0 shutout… then hung on to win the decisive sixth game 1-0 on an overtime goal by Damian Surma.
-With the Conference Final clincher going to overtime, the Everblades became the first team in Kelly Cup history to win three straight series-clinching games in overtime.
-With the entire season pared down to two teams… Florida and Trenton… the ‘Blades set out in their second straight Kelly Cup Finals appearance.
-The series began at Germain Arena in forgettable fashion. Road-weariness and showing signs of vulnerability… the ‘Blades surrendered 7 goals to the Titans in losing 7-0. The disgust and anger in the Florida locker room after the game were palpable.
-A stronger showing in Game 2 also resulted in a 2-1 loss that sent the Everblades on the road to Trenton not knowing if they’d skate again on home ice.
-After trailing and seeming somewhat listless in Game 3 at Trenton, the Everblades came to life. They rallied late to tie, then Ernie Hartleib scored one of the most memorable, and important, goals in team history. His overtime winner meant the ‘Blades would avoid a sweep thanks to a 5-4 win… and the momentum the goal provided would carry into game 4 the following night.
-The Everblades were clearly “feeling it” in Game 4. The game was nip-and-tuck for a while until an offensive explosion led to a 6-3 win. The win assured the ‘Blades would play at least one more game at home… but it also evened the Best-of-7 series at 2 games each.
-In Game 5, Trenton defended home ice well in their arena’s season finale. They gained control early and held on for a 5-2 victory. The Titans left for Estero knowing they needed one win in two games to win the Kelly Cup.
-In the series, and season, finale… the Everblades simply seemed to be out of gas. Overtime winners, game and series rallies and a weeklong roadtrip to Trenton had taken their toll. The Titans claimed the Kelly Cup with a 4-1 win in front of 7,805 fans in a jam-packed Germain Arena.
-Florida’s David Lundbohm ended up the leading playoff scorer with 12 goals and 12 assists. Then-newcomer Steve Saviano proved a more than capable playmaker with 14 postseason assists. Goalies Tyler MacKay and Craig Kowalski were streaky, but both seemed to get hot when they had to.
-Watching the visiting Titans skate off with the Kelly Cup, smelling the cigar smoke wafting from their locker room and the impending departures of major contributors such as Brad Church, Tim O’Connell, Matt Pagnutti, Brent McDonald, Surma, Lundbohm and the goalies all combined to give those players who would return plenty of motivation for the 2005-2006 season.
