ECHL Eastern Conference Recap: Adirondack Thunder vs Florida Everblades Game 1 | 05/17/2024

The Adirondack Thunder and Florida Everblades met for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday Night. Despite Florida being the fourth seed in the South Division for the second straight season and Adirondack being the Eastern Conference Champions, this series has the makings to be tightly contested, and that’s exactly what we got on Friday Night. In the opening frame, neither team was getting many shots to the net early on, and it seemed as if the two teams were feeling each other out despite meeting for three games in Estero in February. It would be the road team that would get on the board first, as Isaac Poulter would make a nice save on a Cam Darcy shot, but it would be Mark Senden who would get his stick on the rebound before it went off of Tristan Ashbrook, and in to open the scoring at the 11:54 mark of the opening frame. Adirondack wouldn’t waste any time with a response, as Ryan Smith would beat Cam Johnson 2:12 after the Senden goal to tie the game, and that’s where we sat after the opening 20.

“I think we did what we’ve been doing in every one of these first games of the series and went into it with more of a feeling it out process, sitting back a little bit and not just playing our game, we had moments of it but I think we were feeling it out a little a little bit more than we should have”

Adirondack Thunder Interim Captain Darian Skeoch on his thoughts on the Game 1 Loss

In the second, it would be a scary moment when Cam Darcy took a shot off his ankle and would be in excruciating pain as the Thunder had possession, but despite how serious the injury looked, the refs would keep their whistles in their pockets until the Everblades got possession. The Everblades defenseman would go straight to the locker room before leaving the rink in an ambulance which promoted a short delay as we waited for another ambulance to arrive. Florida would get the lead with less than two minutes left in the second as Mark Senden would get a tip in front of Poulter for his second of the night and fourth of the Kelly Cup Playoffs, which would end up being the eventual game-winner. Cam Johnson made 21 saves for his ninth win of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

“Ya, it was good but I couldn’t have done it without the help of my linemates obviously battling in front of the net and Darcy made a really nice play in front of the net on the first one and Lansdell was taking the eyes away on the second one”

Florida Everblades forward Mark Senden on his two goal night

For the Thunder, the PP was a glaring issue tonight, as Adirondack went 0/7. It wasn’t just that they couldn’t score on the PP; it was that the Everblades had more good looks on the man advantage. Adirondack’s best looks on the man advantage came late in the third when they pulled Poulter with 2:08 left in the third, but it was a little too late for the team with the most powerplay opportunities in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

“A whole lot of them, we’ll have take a look at that too and make some decisions”

Adirondack Thunder Head Coach Pete MacArthur thoughts when asked what the issues were on the PP

Adirondack and Florida will meet again on Saturday Night before the series shifts to Florida for Game 3 on Wednesday Night.