When trying to win the Kelly Cup, there are often times during the journey where a team will have to be able to pull off an insane comeback. For the defending Kelly Cup champion, Colorado Eagles, this would almost be the case.
In the end, it would be the Florida Everblades that came away with a 7-6 overtime victory over the Colorado Eagles Friday night to tie up the series at two games a piece though.
Following a first period where the Everblades scored twice, Florida took a 2-0 lead into the second period. That is when the Eagles veterans utilized the teams special teams to get back into the game.
Eagles defenseman Matt Register scored on the power play at the 8:30 mark of the second period, and Eagles captain Matt Garbowsky buried a shorthanded, breakaway goal to tie the game at 2-2.
Garbo notches his 2nd short-handed goal in the past 2 games!!!#EaglesCountry #DefendTheCup pic.twitter.com/Joz5y2dohJ
— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) June 2, 2018
Despite being able to tie the game in the second period, the Eagles would not hold the momentum long as the Everblades answered back with three consecutive goals to close out the period and take a take a 5-2 lead into the second intermission. During the scoring outburst, Colorado Avalanche prospect Mitchell Heard tallied three points for the Everblades.
Following an early third period goal from the Everblades to increase their lead to four goals (6-2), things were looking grim for the Eagles but they came storming back with an incredible four-goal period to tie the game at 6-6. Cliff Watson (9:02), Matt Register (3:12), J.C. Beaudin (1:58) and Joey Ratelle (0:58) all contributed with goals during the wild comeback effort.
🐀BEAUTIFUL🐀#EaglesCountry #DefendTheCup pic.twitter.com/FC5DITAv4a
— Colorado Eagles (@ColoradoEagles) June 2, 2018
Despite a valiant effort from the Eagles to force the game to an overtime period, the Everblades spoiled the comeback in OT when forward Gus Young shot and scored from the circle to give Florida the 7-6 victory in Game 4.
The Kelly Cup Finals continue with Game Five on Saturday, June 2nd at 5:00pm MT at Germaine Arena in Estero, Florida.