ESTERO, Fla. – With a win in Game 7 of the South Regional semifinals, the Florida Everblades are on a rapid turnaround heading into their next Kelly Cup Playoff matchup. Awaiting the Blades in the South Regional Finals will be another Florida rival, the Orlando Solar Bears. Game 1 of the series is scheduled for Friday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Hertz Arena. 
The Solar Bears clinched a playoff spot on the final day of the regular season and played some of their best hockey this year. Orlando won four of the final five games of the regular season and advanced to the playoffs. The Bears, making their first playoff appearance since 2019, faced the division-leading Greenville Swamp Rabbits in the opening round and won the series in six games. Orlando had 2 wins and 1 loss at home and away. The Solar Bears ended the series with a 5-1 victory on Tuesday night.
After falling behind 3-1 in the series against Jacksonville, Florida won three straight, including two on the road, and took the set in seven games. This was the Everblades' fifth Game 7 in franchise history and their second win. The first Game 7 victory came in the 2017 opener, when Florida erased another 3-1 series deficit and defeated Orlando. The top two seeds in the South were eliminated in the first round, so the Everblades will play at home against the Solar Bears.
It's been a while since the Blades and Bears played, but the last time they met was on March 25, when Orlando won 4-2 in Central Florida. Florida State and Orlando State played four times in March, with both teams finishing with two wins and two losses.
This will be the fifth time in history that the Florida rivals will meet in the playoffs. The Everblades hold a 4-0 record against the Solar Bears dating back to the 2015 postseason. Established in 2012, Orlando made his sixth appearance in the Kelly Cup playoffs, and to date he has never advanced beyond the second round.
Fans, please wear gray for all Game 2 home games!
blade bit
9 IS OK: The Everblades have won nine straight playoff series and continue their quest to become the first ECHL team to win three straight Kelly Cup championships.
WE TRUST IN CAM: Cam Johnson, a four-game winner over Jacksonville, went 35-9-3 in postseason play for the Everblades in goal-in-goal during his illustrious career. Johnson's first shutout of the 2024 postseason in Game 7 against Jacksonville marked the Blades' ninth playoff shutout. He recorded four shutouts in the 2022 Kelly Cup Playoffs, four more in the 2023 postseason, and won the M. Kelly Playoff Most Valuable Player Award for the second time in June.
Beating the Bears: The Everblades have a 7-5-0 record against Orlando in the 2023-24 regular season, improving their overall record in regular season series to 108-47-16. At the same time, they maintained a record of 16 wins and 7 losses. He had the best performance ever in a postseason game.
Close games: Four of the 13 games this season between the Everblades and Solar Bears were decided by just one goal, with Florida winning three of the four games by one point. Each team won a shootout. Nine of the 13 games were decided by two goals or less.
BEATING THE BEARS: Joe Pendenza (6G, 5A) led the entire Everblades this season with 11 points and six goals against Orlando. Bobo Carpenter (5G, 5A) scored 10 points against the Solar Bears. Oliver Chow (5G, 4A) and Sean Josling (5G, 4A) both scored nine points. Will Riley joined Pendenza and Carpenter with a team-high five assists. Chau and Cole Moberg were the only Florida players to play in all 13 games against Orlando in 2023-24.
Playoff History: In-state rivals Florida and Orlando have met in the past four playoff series, with the Everblades winning each series. Florida won the 2018 and 2019 Southern Regional finals by a count of 4-1, the 2017 Southern Regional semifinals by a score of 4-3, and the 2015 Southern Regional semifinals by a score of 4-2.
