ESTERO, Fla. (Ticker) -- Zenon Konopka scored twice to help the Idaho Steelheads take a 2-0 series lead in the Kelly Cup Finals with a 6-4 victory over the Florida Everblades in front of a standing-room only crowd of 7,427 at TECO Arena.
Konopka collected his second power-play goal of the playoffs with 26 seconds left in the first period and supplied his team with a 3-0 lead 2:19 into the second.
Ben Keup and David Cornacchia also scored in the second to help Idaho take a 5-2 lead with 20 minutes remaining.
Brett Draney recorded an empty-net goal with five seconds left for the Steelheads, who improved to 6-1 over their last seven playoff games on the road.
Dan Ellis turned away 23 shots to improve to 11-2 in the postseason.
Reggie Berg and Brian McCullough both scored on a power play in the second period for Florida, which has lost four of its last five playoff games.
Brent McDonald and McCullough each had a goal in the third to cut the deficit for the Everblades to just one with 3:46 remaining.
Rob Zepp gave up five goals on 20 shots to suffer just his third loss in 11 playoff decisions.
Game 3 shifts to Boise, Idaho on Wednesday.
--- Box Score ---
DATE - 05/15/04 Idaho (6) at Florida (4)
SCORE BY PERIODS
Idaho 2 3 1--6
Florida 0 2 2--4
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Idaho-Kopecky 8 (Galbraith) 5:10. 2, Idaho-Konopka 7 (power play) (Bararuk; Hay) 19:34. Penalties: Burt, IDH (Roughing), 0:10. Thompson, FLA (Interference), 7:32. Peach, IDH (Roughing), 10:35. Thompson, FLA (Roughing), 10:35. Mylymok, IDH (Ten minute misc.), 12:45. Buckley, FLA (Ten minute misc.), 12:45. McDonald, FLA (Holding), 15:12. O'Connell, FLA (Elbowing, Major, Game misc.), 17:07.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Idaho-Konopka 8 (Bararuk) 2:19. 4, Idaho- Keup 3 (Burt; Mylymok) 7:43. 5, Florida-Berg 5 (power play) (Buckley; Brindley) 12:59. 6, Florida-McCullough 3 (power play) (Surma; Pagnutti) 14:12. 7, Idaho-Cornacchia 1 (game winner) (Gyori; Vasilyev) 16:21. Penalties: Slater, IDH (Interference), 2:55. Slater, IDH (High sticking, Double minor), 10:19. Cornacchia, IDH (Cross checking), 12:15.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 8, Florida-McDonald 1 (Anderson) 6:51. 9, Florida-McCullough 4 (Anderson; Pagnutti) 16:14. 10, Idaho-Draney 3 (empty net) (Hay) 19:55. Penalties: None.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Idaho 10 10 10--30
Florida 6 14 7--27
Power Play Conversions: Idaho - 1 of 3, Florida - 2 of 5.
Goalies: Idaho-Ellis (27 shots, 23 saves; record: 11-1-1). Florida- Maund (9 shots, 9 saves); Zepp (20 shots, 15 saves; record: 8-3-0).
A: 7427. Referee: Ernst. Linesmen: Ferguson; Phillips.
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