Florida Everblades Vs. Kansas City Mavericks: ECHL Kelly Cup Finals Preview, Players To Watch, Prediction

The Florida Everblades and Kansas City Mavericks meet for the first time this season and on the biggest stage. A closer look at the 2024 ECHL Kelly Cup Finals matchup, players to watch, and our prediction.

The Florida Everblades and Kansas City Mavericks are set to meet in the 2024 Kelly Cup Finals, which will commence with Game 1 on Friday, May 31, in Independence, Missouri.

On one side, we have the Everblades. Florida is undoubtedly in the midst of the franchise's most successful run, having been in the ECHL Eastern Conference Finals for the fifth time in the last six postseasons. The Everblades became the first team in ECHL history to advance to three straight Kelly Cup Finals. Winners of the last two championships, Florida will look to cement their place in the history books by winning three consecutive Kelly Cup trophies.

Then we have the Kansas City Mavericks, who not only played in the franchise's first Western Conference Finals as members of the ECHL but also advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals for the first time ever. The Mavericks claimed the Brabham Cup as ECHL regular-season champions for the second time in team history and is seeking to be first team since Alaska in 2014 to win regular-season and playoff championship.

Florida and Kansas City will get a look at one another for the first time after not playing head-to-head during the regular season. The last time these two teams squared off was during the 2022-23 season when the Everblades took two of three in late February.

Let's take a closer look at each team.

The Florida Everblades advanced to the franchise's third consecutive Kelly Cup Finals after defeating the Adirondack Thunder four games to two in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Prior to that, Florida topped the Orlando Solar Bears four games to one in the South Division Finals. In the first round, Florida overcame a three-games-to-one deficit against Jacksonville to take the series in seven games.

The Kansas City Mavericks are in the franchise's first-ever Kelly Cup Finals after defeating the Toledo Walleye four games to two, which also saw Kansas City end Toledo's historic 22-game win streak.

Prior to that, Kansas City knocked off the defending Western Conference-champion Idaho Steelheads four games to one in the Mountain Division Finals. In the first round, the Mavericks swept the Tulsa Oilers in four straight games.

Florida Everblades

Kansas City Mavericks

Game 1 – Friday, May 31 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City

Game 2 – Saturday, June 1 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City

Game 3 – Wednesday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida

Game 4 – Friday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida

Game 5 – Saturday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m. ET at Florida *

Game 6 – Monday, June 10 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City *

Game 7 – Wednesday, June 12 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City *

* - If Necessary

Kansas City in seven games.