Conference Title Within Reach for Blades
June 2, 2021 - ECHL (ECHL)
Florida Everblades News Release
ESTERO, Fla. - The Florida Everblades (40-19-4-3) look to clinch an Eastern Conference regular season title tonight against Greenville Swamp Rabbits (37-19-11-3) at Hertz Arena. The Blades would secure the top seed in the conference and home-ice advantage in the 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs with a victory tonight. Florida needs just one win or two overtime/shootout losses through three games this week to win the Eastern Conference.
Last Time Out: The Everblades fell short in the weekend finale, losing 3-2 in overtime to the Solar Bears in Orlando on Sunday afternoon. Trailing 1-0 in the second period, Blake Winiecki scored his 19th goal of the season to tie the game. Later in the third, Myles Powell gave Florida a 2-1 lead after redirecting a Joe Pendenza pass. Orlando's Tristin Langan eventually tied the game with only a minute left in regulation, and then Matthew Spencer scored the overtime winner to seal a 3-2 win for the Solar Bears.
Scouting the Swamp Rabbits: Greenville enters tonight ranked second in the Eastern Conference. Matt Bradley (19g-25a), Samuel Jardine (3g-40a), and Garrett Thompson (17g-24a) lead a balanced attack for the Swamp Rabbits. Greenville sports a pair of rookies in Max Zimmer (18g-16a) and Ben Finklestein (11g-21a) that run eighth and ninth respectively in ECHL rookie scoring. Goaltender Ryan Bednard has helped carry the Swamp Rabbits up the conference rankings. Bednard leads the league with four shutouts and places third in the ECHL with 20 wins.
Conference Title on the Line: The Everblades clinched a postseason berth with a win on May 22 against Jacksonville. Now Florida has its eyes on an Eastern Conference regular season championship and home-ice advantage in the 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs. If the Blades can claim victory tonight, they would capture their seventh regular season conference title in franchise history. Florida has finished on top of its conference in each of the last three seasons (not including the shortened campaign in 2020) dating back to 2017.
###
WHO: Florida Everblades vs Greenville Swamp Rabbits
WHERE: Hertz Arena - Estero, Fla.
WHEN: Wednesday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m.
TICKETS: Find tickets for tonight's game HERE.
PROMOTIONS: Enjoy $3 Bud Light Drafts, $3 Barefoot Wine, $3 John Morrell Hot Dogs, and $4 New Amsterdam and Pink Whitney Vodka! Calling all College Students - Show your College ID at the Hertz Arena Box Office and receive $5 tickets at every Blades Wednesday Night home game!
BROADCAST: Watch every Florida Everblades game on FloHockey.TV. Listen to the exciting game action on ESPN Southwest Florida on 770 AM, 101.5 FM, 104.3 FM and online at https://espnswfl.com.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from June 2, 2021
- Rabbits Drop 2-1 Overtime Decision against the Everblades - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Blades Clinch Eastern Conference Title in OT - Florida Everblades
- Indy Fuel Clinch Kelly Cup Playoff Berth - Indy Fuel
- Mavericks Defeated by Indy Wednesday, 5-1 - Kansas City Mavericks
- Mavericks Mid-Week Game Preview vs. Indy Fuel - Kansas City Mavericks
- ECHL Transactions - June 2 - ECHL
- Stewart Returns from Bakersfield - Wichita Thunder
- Grizzlies Preview: June 2, 2021 Fort Wayne at Utah - Utah Grizzlies
- Joseph Garreffa Named to ECHL All-Rookie Team - Orlando Solar Bears
- Boucher Named to All-Rookie Team - Utah Grizzlies
- Dickman, Stewart, Weninger Named to All-Rookie Team - Wichita Thunder
- Americans Lancaster Named Monthly Award Winner - Allen Americans
- ECHL Announces 2020-21 All-Rookie Team - ECHL
- Game Preview: Swamp Rabbits at Everblades, 7:30 PM - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Allen's Lancaster Named Warrior Hockey/ECHL Player of the Month - ECHL
- Utah's Parker Gahagen Named Goaltender of the Month - Utah Grizzlies
- Utah's Gahagen Named Warrior Hockey/ECHL Goaltender of the Month - ECHL
- Conference Title Within Reach for Blades - Florida Everblades
- Everblades to Host Jersey Auction Benefiting the 4 Words Foundation - Florida Everblades
- Greenville's Finkelstein Named Howies Hockey Tape/ECHL Rookie of the Month - ECHL
- Finkelstein Selected ECHL Rookie of the Month for May - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
