Everblades capture Kelly Cup with 3-2 overtime win
ECHL.com
PRINCETON, N.J. – The Florida Everblades won the first Kelly Cup championship in team history on Wednesday with a 3-2 overtime win over the Las Vegas Wranglers in front of a standing-room only crowd of 7,290 fans at Germain Arena. Florida wins the series 4 games to 1.
Brandon MacLean scored the game-winning goal 4:54 into the extra session, taking a pass from Matt Beca, and beating goaltender Joe Fallon with a quick shot from the left-wing circle. Florida took a 2-0 lead into the locker room after 20 minutes of play. Justin Shugg opened the scoring with his seventh goal of the playoffs at 12:07, and Mike Ratchuk added his fourth postseason goal, and third of the Kelly Cup Finals, at 18:46.
Las Vegas cut its deficit in half 9:26 into the second period as Ash Goldie fired a shot from the right-wing circle past goaltender John Muse for his third postseason tally.
Peter MacArthur pulled the Wranglers even in the opening minute of the third period, taking a pass from Chris Francis behind the Everblades’ net, and beating Muse with a wraparound on the right post.
Florida went 11-0 at home during the Kelly Cup Playoffs, and dating back to the regular season, the Everblades were 22-1-2 in their last 25 games at Germain Arena. The Everblades are the fourth team in ECHL history to clinch the Riley or Kelly Cup in overtime, joining Toledo (1993), Mississippi (1999) and Peoria (2000).
The Everblades become the 16th different team to capture the ECHL title, and are 11th different winner of the Kelly Cup. Florida, which had lost in its two previous trips to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2004 and 2005, is tied with six other clubs for the most Finals appearances in the ECHL’s 24-year history.
2012 Kelly Cup Finals
Florida wins series 4-1
Game 1 – Florida 1 at LAS VEGAS 2
Game 2 – FLORIDA 7 at Las Vegas 2
Game 3 – Las Vegas 3 at FLORIDA 4 (OT)
Game 4 – Las Vegas 1 at FLORIDA 3
Game 5 – Las Vegas 2 at FLORIDA 3 (OT)
Kelly Cup Champions
2012 – Florida defeated Las Vegas, 4 games to 1
2011 – Alaska defeated Kalamazoo, 4 games to 1
2010 – Cincinnati defeated Idaho, 4 games to 1
2009 – South Carolina defeated Alaska, 4 games to 3
2008 – Cincinnati defeated Las Vegas, 4 games to 2
2007 – Idaho defeated Dayton, 4 games to 1
2006 – Alaska defeated Gwinnett, 4 games to 1
2005 – Trenton defeated Florida, 4 games to 2
2004 – Idaho defeated Florida, 4 games to 1
2003 – Atlantic City defeated Columbia, 4 games to 1
2002 – Greenville defeated Dayton, 4 games to 0
2001 – South Carolina defeated Trenton, 4 games to 1
2000 – Peoria defeated Louisiana, 4 games to 2
1999 – Mississippi defeated Richmond, 4 games to 3
1998 – Hampton Roads defeated Pensacola, 4 games to 2
1997 – South Carolina defeated Louisiana, 4 games to 1
Riley Cup Champions
1996 – Charlotte defeated Jacksonville, 4 games to 0
1995 – Richmond defeated Greensboro, 4 games to 1
1994 – Toledo defeated Raleigh, 4 games to 1
1993 – Toledo defeated Wheeling, 4 games to 2
1992 – Hampton Roads defeated Louisville, 4 games to 0
1991 – Hampton Roads defeated Greensboro, 4 games to 1
1990 – Greensboro defeated Winston-Salem, 4 games to 1
1989 – Carolina defeated Johnstown, 4 games to 3 |
