TROIS-RIVIÈRES, Québec – Despite a game-tying goal by Captain Oliver Chau and a 30-save effort by goaltender Cam Johnson, the Florida Everblades came out on the short end of a 3-1 decision to the Trois-Rivières Lions in Game Five of the ECHL Eastern Conference Finals Saturday afternoon at Colisée Vidéotron. Florida trails the best-of-seven series three games to two and will host Game Six at Hertz Arena Tuesday night.
The Blades will need to win two games in The Swamp to return to the ECHL Kelly Cup Finals for the fourth straight year and earn a chance to win an unprecedented fourth straight Kelly Cup championship.
With less than 15 hours elapsing since the end of the Everblades’ 4-0 Game Four victory, the opening period of Game Five saw both teams create ample opportunities to get on the scoreboard. On the first power-play shift of the contest, the Everblades had two shot attempts hit the post, but it was Trois-Rivières’ Tyler Hylland who struck first, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead at the 14:47 mark. The Blades had a flurry of shots in the closing seconds of the frame, but went into the first intermission trailing 1-0 after being outshot by a narrow 9-8 margin.
Chau evened the score just 2:43 into the second period, striking just 12 seconds into Florida’s first of three power-play shifts throughout the stanza. Chau’s shot would be the first of just two shots on goal by the Everblades in the frame. On the other end of the ice, Johnson was the story of the middle period in between the pipes, as he stopped all 14 Trois-Rivières shots and kept Florida in the game.
Trois-Rivières took advantage of a power-play that carried over from the second period and took a 2-1 lead on a power-play goal by Chris Jandric just 1:04 into the third period that proved to be the game-winner. An empty-net goal by Alex Beaucage in the final minute closed out the scoring with the Lions on top 3-1.
The Everblades’ attack got back on track in the final frame, outshooting the Lions 11-10, but could not slip the puck past Trois-Rivières goaltender Luke Cavallin, who ended the game with 20 saves. Johnson registered 30 saves for the Everblades.
With the series shifting back to Hertz Arena, Game Six is slated for Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. Should the Everblades win and force Game Seven, the winner-take-all game would be played Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for games at Hertz Arena remain on sale through on Ticketmaster or at the Fifth Third Bank Box Office at Hertz Arena. Visit floridaeverblades.com for more information.
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BLADES BITS
The opening goal by Trois-Rivières snapped a string of eight straight goals by the Everblades over a five-period string in Games Three and Four.
Oliver Chau’s goal was his first point of the series, while Anton Malmström’s helper on that goal gave him an assist for the third straight game.
Colton Hargrove’s helper on the Chau goal gave him three points in the last three games. Hargrove leads the Everblades with 12 points (6G, 6A) in the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
The Everblades outshot Trois-Rivières 105-44 over the first three games, but the Lions claimed a 63-44 edge over Games Four and Five.
Game Five marked the second time in the series that both teams scored power-play goals. Through five games, the Everblades are 5-for-18 on the man advantage, while Trois-Rivières is 2-for-19.
Saturday Afternoon’s Scoresheet
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