ECHL hockey: Blades beat Bears in Game 7 to complete comeback

ESTERO -- The Florida Everblades completed what may be the best postseason comeback in franchise history on Wednesday night, defeating the Orlando Solar Bears 7-4 in Game 7 of the South Division Semifinals of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The Everblades came back from a 3-1 series deficit for the first time in the team's 19 seasons. It was also the first time in three tries that the Everblades have won a Game 7 in a postseason series.

"I'm just so proud of this group," Everblades first-year coach Brad Ralph said. "We're just the sixth team in ECHL history to ever come back from a 3-to-1 deficit. I think it speaks volumes about the character of this group to persevere mentally."

They will not have much time to celebrate, however, as the South Division Finals open on Friday night at 7:30 against the South Carolina Stingrays. Game 2 will be Saturday at Germain.

ECHL hockey: Solar Bears push Blades to brink of elimination with Game 4 win

For the Solar Bears, it was a bitter defeat. They won the first two games of the series in Estero, taking home-ice advantage. They also had the Everblades facing elimination for three games in a row, but could not finish the job. Orlando lost goaltender Ryan Massa to an injury during an ice-wide brawl near the end of Game 4. Massa, who had shut out the Blades in Game 3, didn't play the rest of the series.

"What makes it hard is that we were up 2-0 and the tide turned because of certain situations, and that's it," Solar Bears coach Drake Berehowsky said.

The Everblades came out shooting, as they had in Game 6, firing the first nine shots on goal. However, Orlando goalie Mitch Gillam stopped all nine, and the defenders in front of him prevented the Everblades from having second chances.

The Everblades had a pair of 2-on-1 rushes during this time, but failed to complete the deed. On the first, Gillam stopped Matt Berry's shot. On the second, Berry had the puck again, but his pass to Brendan O'Donnell missed the target, so not shot was taken.

A hooking penalty called against Orlando defenseman Taylor Doherty helped break the stalemate. On the ensuing power play, Zack Kamrass fired a shot from the center of the blue line. O'Donnell tipped the puck into the net to take the lead.

"I think we had our legs tonight, and that's important," Ralph said. "I thought over the course of 60 minutes the way we were playing that game it was going to come. We have success when we go to the net and we did that tonight."

The Solar Bears answered quickly, scoring the tying goal in 21 seconds. The puck bounced off the wall and in front of the net. Milos Bubela was there to put it in.

Three minutes later, on a 4-on-4, O'Donnell swatted the puck away from defender Chris Bradley. Stephen MacAulay picked up the loose puck and quickly drilled it into the net, making it 2-1 Florida.

ECHL hockey: Everblades survive in Orlando, force Game 6 at home Tuesday

"Brendan O'Donnell outmuscled two defensemen and I called for it," MacAulay said. "He made a great pass on my tape. I saw an opening in the bottom corner and I was lucky to pick that."

The Everblades extended the lead in the second period, with their first goal coming early in the period. Kevin Raine's shot rebounded off Gillam. Florida captain Brant Harris swept in the rebound to make it a two-goal lead.

A few minutes later, Dalton Smith found himself at the top of the crease with a loose puck. It took him two tries, but he stuffed it in to make it a 4-1 game.

Berry scored quickly in the third period, finding a rebound bouncing right to him in front of a wide open net. Orlando responded with a strange goal when Chris Crane was all by himself in front of the net

But Florida was not done. MacAulay scored his second goal of the night after taking a perfect cross-ice pass from Matt Hatch. O'Donnell tallied his second goal of the game and seventh of the postseason when McCarron dropped a pass back to him at center.

Orlando finished off the scoring with a pair of late goals. Taylor Doherty stuffed a puck in and then Denver Manderson made it 7-4 after taking a centering pass.

Peters stopped 23 shots in the win, allowing all four Orlando goals. Gillam had 26 saves and gave up six goals before being pulled for backup Kris Joyce, who had four saves.

Kamrass left the game in the second period after a nasty collision left him doubled over on the ice. After getting up, he skated off to the training room and was back on the ice at the start of the third period.

"We'll evaluate him now, but he looks all right so far," Ralph said.

EVERBLADES 7, SOLAR BEARS 4

Orlando 1 0 3 - 4
Florida 2 2 3 - 7

1st Period-1, Florida, O'Donnell 6 (Kamrass, McCarron), 14:29 (PP). 2, Orlando, Bubela 2 (Conacher, Manderson), 14:50. 3, Florida, MacAulay 1 (O'Donnell , Kamrass), 17:53. Penalties-Doherty Orl (hooking), 13:37; Angeli Orl (high-sticking), 16:01; Smith Fla (holding the stick), 17:32.

2nd Period-4, Florida, Harris 3 (Raine, Koper), 1:18. 5, Florida, Smith 2 (Ferrantino, MacAulay), 6:56. Penalties-Roe Fla (interference), 13:17; Maggio Orl (roughing), 16:54; Raine Fla (double - roughing), 16:54; Marchment Orl (slashing ), 18:46.

3rd Period-6, Florida, Berry 5 (McCarron, O'Donnell ), 0:28 (PP). 7, Orlando, Crane 2 (Angeli, Bradley), 1:54. 8, Florida, MacAulay 2 (Hatch, Ferrantino), 4:54. 9, Florida, O'Donnell 7 (Roe, McCarron), 15:42. 10, Orlando, Doherty 4 (Bradley, Baier), 17:39 (PP). 11, Orlando, Manderson 5 (Faille, Perry), 18:50. Penalties-Roe Fla (tripping), 12:52; Koper Fla (cross-checking), 16:47.

Shots on Goal-Orlando 9-11-7-27. Florida 17-8-12-37.
Power Play Opportunities-Orlando 1 / 5; Florida 2 / 3.
Goalies-Orlando, Gillam (32 shots-26 saves); Joyce (5 shots-4 saves). Florida, Peters (27 shots-23 saves).
A-3,514
Referees-Stephen Reneau (17), Andrew Wilk (24).
Linesmen-Billy Gubelman (36), Charlie O'Connor (43).

Kelly Cup Playoffs

South Division semifinals

Everblades 4, Orlando Solar Bears 3

Game 1 -- Orlando 4, Florida 2

Game 2 -- Orlando 3, Florida 2

Game 3 -- Florida 5, Orlando 4 OT

Game 4 -- Orlando 3, Florida 0.

Game 5 -- Florida 5, Orlando 1

Game 6 -- Florida 6, Orlando 4

Game 7 -- Florida 7, Orlando 4

South Division Finals

Everblades vs. South Carolina Stingrays

Game 1 -- Friday, Germain Arena, 7:30 p.m.

Game 2 -- Saturday, Germain Arena, 7 p.m.

Game 3 -- Monday, May 1, at South Carolina, 7:05 p.m.

Game 4 -- Wednesday, May 3, at South Carolina, 7:05 p.m.

Game 5 -- If necessary, Thursday, May 4, at South Carolina, 7:05 p.m.

Game 6 -- If necessary, Saturday, May 6, Germain Arena, 7 p.m.

Game 7 -- If necessary, Monday, May 8, Germain Arena, 7:30 p.m.