The first step in the Florida Everblades’ Kelly Cup title defense is complete. The 2022 champions entered the postseason as the fourth seed in the South Division semifinals, but managed to dispatch top-seeded South Carolina Stingrays in six games, clinching the series in overtime Monday night.

Joe Pendenza scored halfway through the first overtime period after one-timing home a cross-ice feed from Sean Josling to send the Everblades through to the second round.

🚨WINNING GOAL🚨

Joe Pendenza #22 THE OVERTIME HERO🐐 pic.twitter.com/onjrF2qUdN

— x - Florida Everblades (@FL_Everblades) May 2, 2023

The Everblades won two of their three games at home including a 4-3 OT win in Game 3 to help set the stage for the clinching scenario Monday. After taking a 1-0 lead into the third period, Bear Hughes scored 4:52 in the third period for the Stingrays to put any Florida celebration on hold.

South Carolina goaltender and Washington Capitals prospect Clay Stevenson was quite busy in the final frame and overtime, but held the Stingrays in with Floridan netminder Cam Johnson practically matching him save for save. Stevenson finished the game stopping 31 of 33 shots, while Johnson stopped 28 of 29. 

Pendenza’s overtime winner was his third goal and seventh point of the series. In his fourth season with the team, Pedenza has had no shortage of big moments in an Everblades jersey. He scored a huge game-tying goal in their Kelly Cup Final series with the Toledo Walleye last year in Game 4. He told FloHockey earlier this year that he was eager to return to the team and help them defend their title and did he ever help them in Game 6.

Now the Everblades will await the winner of the series between the Jacksonville Icemen and Greenville Swamp Rabbits. The Icemen have a 3-2 series lead with Game 6 slated for Tuesday.