Florida Everblades win ECHL’s Kelly Cup in double-OT thriller

The Florida Everblades’ reign in the ECHL lives on.

Florida won its fourth Kelly Cup title in the past five seasons with a thrilling 5-4 double-overtime victory over the Kansas City Mavericks in Game 6 on Monday night.

Isaac Nurse scored the deciding goal 15:24 into the fifth period, burying a sharp-angle shot from below the face-off circle to cap an epic comeback victory.

The Everblades trailed 4-1 heading into the third period before three unanswered markers from Gianfranco Cassaro, Anthony Romano and Oliver Chau forced extra time.

Chau’s goal came with just 14 seconds left on the clock after a net-front scramble.

Florida netminder Cam Johnson earned the June M. Kelly Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award for his performance during the post-season. In this year’s playoffs, Johnson posted a 16-3 record with a 1.93 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.

Johnson has been a central figure in the Everblades’ run of success, claiming the playoff MVP in 2022 and 2023 as well.

Florida responded from a 2-0 deficit in this year’s final against Kansas City, stringing together four straight wins — three of which needed overtime — on its way to an ECHL-record fifth title.

The Everglades are affiliated with the National Hockey League’s St. Louis Blues, and the Mavericks are an affiliate of the Seattle Kraken.