For the second time in this series the Florida Everblades won 4-3 with an empty-net goal.Milan Gajic’s goal with 55 seconds to play was the game winner Sunday afternoon in the decisive fifth game in Elmira.

The Everblades win the best-of-five first-round series 3-2.

Gajic scored two goals and an assist to pace Florida, while rookie forward Matthew Pistilli scored for the third straight game.The Everblades await the winner of the series between No. 2 seed Kalamazoo and No. 7 seed Reading (Reading leads the series 2-1).

In a tight-checking first period the Everblades scored the only goal.The Everblades struck on the power play on Mike Bayrack’s first postseason goal.Bayrack whacked the third rebound opportunity past Elmira’s Chris Holt for the only goal of the period.The Blades finished the period even with Elmira in shots on goal with 11.

The Blades took a 2-0 lead 6:55 into the second period on a turnover at the Elmira blueline.Ross Carlson broke in with Gajic and Bayrack three on one with Gajic recording his fourth goal of the playoffs deflecting the puck off the Elmira defenseman’s stick and into the back of the net.Carlson recorded his second assist of the game and Phil Paquet picked up the other assist.

The Everblades carried the 2-0 lead until the 18:26 mark of the second period.The momentum changed at that point as the Jackals drew a penalty on Ernie Hartlieb for holding.Elmira coach Steve Martinson called for a stick check on Florida’s Brandon Buck.The stick was ruled illegal (curve rule) by referee Jason Rollins and the Jackals had a two-minute five-on-three advantage.The Jackals converted on both power-play opportunities with two goals 54 seconds apart by Justin Donati and Olivier Proulx to close the second period.The teams were tied at 2-2 heading to the third period.

Pistilli gave the Everblades the lead 3-2 early in the third period.Pistilli fired a rebound off a shot from Colin Nicholson through traffic and past goaltender Holt.The score remained that way until the final minute of the game.The Everblades took a 4-2 advantage on an empty-net goal by Gajic with 55 seconds remaining.Maxime Gratchev finished the scoring for Elmira with a goal with one second left to make the final 4-3.

The Everblades move on to play either the Wings or Royals.That best-of-seven series begins next week (TBA).