A four-goal second period lifted the Kansas City Mavericks to a 5-2 victory over the Florida Everblades in Game 2 of the 2026 Kelly Cup Finals Saturday night at Cable Dahmer Arena.
Kansas City takes a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series that shifts to Hertz Arena for Game 3 Wednesday as the Blades will need to dig out of a hole to win their fourth ECHL title in five seasons.The Mavericks wasted little time opening the scoring as Bobo Carpenter intercepted a pass, slipped behind the Everblades defense, and scored his team-leading 10th goal of the playoffs just 17 seconds into the first period.Florida responded late in the frame, capitalizing on a pair of minor penalties on the Mavericks 30 seconds apart that led to the Everblades’ first goal of the series. Carson Gicewicz put the bow on a five-on-three advantage for the Blades, tipping in a shot by Anthony Romao for his ninth tally of the postseason at 15:33 to knot the game at 1-1.
Gicewicz’s goal snapped the Everblades’ eight-game string without a power-play marker. For Gicewicz, the goal was his fourth in the last five games. The Mavericks erupted for four goals in the second period, with the final three goals coming on the power play. Jake McLaughlin (1:30), Marcus Crawford (8:26), David Cotton (9:07), and Jackson Jutting (14:35) gave the host Mavericks a 5-1 lead after 40 minutes. The Everblades mustered just five shots on goal in the middle frame, with Kansas City taking 15 to pull ahead 25-10 in the shot count. Jesse Lansdell opened the third period with a goal for the Everblades just 49 seconds after the opening draw. Lansdell tipped home a shot by Hudson Elyniuk that hit both Mavericks goaltender Dylan Wells and the crossbar for his fourth goal of the playoffs. The Everblades applied heavy pressure throughout the third period, even pulling netminder Cam Johnson to create a six-on-four advantage following a Kansas City penalty midway through the frame – and again for significant time throughout the final six-plus minutes – but could not cut further into the Mavericks’ lead.
2026 Kelly Cup Finals Schedule
Florida Everblades vs. Kansas City Mavericks
Game 1: Kansas City 6, Florida 0
Game 2: Kansas City 5, Florida 2
Game 3: Wednesday, June 10 at Florida, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4: Friday, June 12 at Florida, 7:30 p.m.
Game 5*: Friday, June 13 at Florida, 7 p.m.
Game 6:* Monday, June 15 at Kansas City, 8:05 p.m.
Game 7:* Wednesday, June 17 at Kansas City, 8:05 p.m.
* — If Necessary
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Kansas City Mavericks take 2-0 Kelly Cup Finals lead over Everblades
Reporting by Staff Report, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
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By Staff Report, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News | USA TODAY Network
