There’s a crowd from Newfoundland headed to Florida later this week, but unlike most vacationers, these guys won’t be lounging on the beach.
The Newfoundland Growlers will meet the Estero-based Florida Everblades for the ECHL’s Eastern Conference championship after finishing off the Manchester Monarchs 5-1 Monday night at Mile One Centre.
The Growlers took the best-of-seven series in six games to win the North Division title.
The Everblades, who were 50-16-5-1 this season for 106 points (only the Cincinnati Cyclones had more points, with 110) have home ice advantage in the Eastern final, which will be a 2-3-2 format.
The first two games are Friday and Saturday in Estero – located between Fort Myers and Naples on Florida’s west coast – with Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary) next Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, May 15, 17 and 18, in St. John’s.
If Games 6 and 7 are required, they’ll be played Tuesday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 22 in Florida.
Just as he’s done all series, St. John’s born-and-raised Zach O’Brien carried the Growlers with three goals. O’Brien, the Growlers’ top scorer this season (28-40-68), scored in each of the first five games against the Monarchs, and has 10 in the post-season.
Matt Bradley and Garrett Johnston also scored for the winners.
Tony Cameranesi replied for Manchester.
Before 3,150 fans, O’Brien opened scoring 5:52 after the opening faceoff on a play with fellow St. John’s native Marcus Power, and struck again at the 17:20 mark with Power and Garrett Johnston drawing assists.
Power finished the night with three helpers.
Twenty-one seconds after the second O’Brien goal, Bradley notched his second of the playoffs.
Johnston and O’Brien both scored on Manchester goalie Charles Williams in the second period for a comfortable 5-0 Newfoundland lead.
Cameranesi had the only goal of the third period, ruining Michael Garteig’s shutout bid.
Garteig, who played every game of the post season, had a relatively easy time of it through 40 minutes, facing 16 shots.
It was a different story in the third as Garteig sealed the win with 20 saves as the Monarchs outshot the Growlers 21-4.
The final shots on goal read 37-29 for Manchester.
