Photo Courtesy of the Florida Everblades [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/271235ba-3f67-458a-b705-b1ca32c462ae.avif] Photo Courtesy of the Florida Everblades The 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs have come down to the Conference Finals. Three of the teams have been here before, while one is making its first appearance. Here’s a look at the matchups. EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: TROIS-RIVIERES LIONS VS. FLORIDA EVERBLADES Series Schedule Game 1 – Saturday, May 17 at 7 p.m. ET at Florida Game 2 – Sunday, May 18 at 5 p.m. ET at Florida Game 3 – Wednesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. ET at Trois-Rivières Game 4 – Friday, May 23 at 7 p.m. ET at Trois-Rivières Game 5 – Saturday, May 24 at 3 p.m. ET at Trois-Rivières (If Necessary) Game 6 – Tuesday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida (If Necessary) Game 7 – Wednesday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida (If Necessary) Past History The two teams in this year’s Eastern Conference Finals couldn’t be more different. The Trois-Rivieres Lions [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/lions-advance-to-eastern-conference-finals]are making their first-ever appearance in the Conference Finals. The Florida Everblades [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/everblades-move-on-to-eastern-conference-finals-eliminate-solar-bears-to-take-south-division-title], meanwhile, have captured the last three Kelly Cups and are making an appearance in the Conference Finals for a fourth straight year. Florida is in the Conference Finals for the 10th time in team history and for the sixth time in the last seven post-seasons. The Everblades have advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals seven times (2004, 2005, 2012, 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024), capturing the Kelly Cup title in 2012, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Both totals rank as the most in ECHL [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/]history. How They Got Here After sweeping the Jacksonville Icemen [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/everblades-sweep-icemen-for-fourth-straight-season-advance-to-south-division-finals]in the South Division Semifinals, with all four wins coming in overtime, Florida eliminated the Orlando Solar Bears [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/solar-bears-sneak-past-everblades-to-get-back-in-south-division-finals]in five games in the South Division Finals. The Everblades come into the Conference Finals having won 14 consecutive playoff series, the longest such streak in ECHL post-season history. The Lions captured the North Division regular-season title for the first time in team history before defeating the Reading Royals [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/lions-advance-to-north-division-finals-with-sweep-of-royals]in four games in the North Division Semifinals and the Norfolk Admirals [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/admirals-get-big-home-win-tie-north-division-finals-2-2]4 games to 2 in the North Division Finals. By The Numbers Colton Hargrove leads the Everblades through two rounds of the playoffs with five goals and shares the team lead in points with Logan Lambdin (3g-6a) with nine points each. Florida defenseman Cole Moberg is tied for second among all blueliners in the playoffs with three goals and is fifth among defensemen with seven points. Cam Johnson, who is the ECHL all-time leader in post-season wins (55) and shutouts (12), ranks fourth in the playoffs with a 1.58 goals-against average and is seventh with a .932 save percentage. Trois-Rivieres’ Anthony Beauregard’s seven goals are tied for the playoff lead and his 11 points rank sixth, while Alex Beaucage is right behind him with six goals (tied for fourth) and 10 points (tied for seventh). The Lions’ Chris Jandric is tied for first among defensemen with nine points (1g-8a). Goaltender Luke Cavallin has appeared in nine of the Lions’ 10 post-season games, going 7-2 with a 1.65 goals-against average. That ranks sixth over the two rounds, and his .945 save percentage ranks third. Fun Fact During Florida’s Kelly Cup Playoff run last season, Cam Johnson’s GAA never rose above the 2.00 mark. WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: KANSAS CITY MAVERICKS VS. TOLEDO WALLEYE Photo Courtesy of the Kansas City Mavericks [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/19f2fd6b-1919-41c2-8586-36768eea481f.jpeg] Photo Courtesy of the Kansas City Mavericks Series Schedule Game 1 – Thursday, May 15 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City Game 2 – Saturday, May 17 at 6:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City Game 3 – Tuesday, May 20 at 7:15 p.m. ET at Toledo Game 4 – Thursday, May 22 at 7:15 p.m. ET at Toledo Game 5 – Saturday, May 24 at 7:15 p.m. ET at Toledo (If Necessary) Game 6 – Monday, May 26 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City (If Necessary) Game 7 – Wednesday, May 28 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Kansas City (If Necessary) Past History These two teams have been in this spot before, having met in the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive season. The Mavericks [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/knight-monsters-inaugural-season-ends-mavericks-clinch-western-conference-finals-berth]came out the victors in six games in the 2024 WCF. The Mavericks are appearing in the Conference Finals for the second time. Toledo [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/walleye-receive-echl-hockey-operations-department-of-the-year-award]has advanced to the Conference Finals in 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 and for the seventh time in the last nine post-seasons. How They Got Here Kansas City went 49-18-5 in the regular season to capture the Mountain Division title for the second straight season. The Mavericks were one of three ECHL teams to win at least 23 games both at home and on the road in 2024-25. The Mavericks eliminated the Tulsa Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/mavericks-advance-to-mountain-division-finals-end-oilers-season-with-shutout]in six games in the Mountain Division Semifinals before sweeping the Tahoe Knight Monsters [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/knight-monsters-execute-sweep-over-wichita-advance-to-mountain-division-finals]in the Mountain Division Finals. The Walleye went 44-17-11 in the regular season to earn the Central Division title for the second straight season and third time in four years. Toledo enters the Conference Finals off of a four-game sweep over the Indy Fuel [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/fish-sweep-fuel-advance-to-central-division-finals]and a six-game triumph over the Fort Wayne Komets [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/game-day/walleye-advance-to-western-conference-finals-eliminate-komets-in-central-division-series]. By The Numbers KC finished in the top five in both goals per game (3.56, second) and goals-against per game (2.47, third). They have similar numbers in the playoffs, ranking in the top five of playoff teams in goals per game (3.40, third) and goals-against per game (1.50, first). Cade Borchardt, who earned a spot on the All-ECHL Second Team [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/latest-news/all-echl-first-and-second-teams-announced], is tied for the playoff lead with seven goals. Damien Giroux (6g-4a) and David Cotton (2g-8a) share the team lead with 10 points each, which is tied for seventh overall in the playoffs. Jack LaFontaine’s four shutouts are tied for the second most in a single post-season in ECHL history. LaFontaine is second with a 1.28 goals-against average and .952 save percentage. ECHL Most Valuable Player [https://thehockeynews.com/echl/players/toledos-hawkins-wins-mvp-award-for-second-consecutive-year]Brandon Hawkins has continued his success over to the post-season with the Walleye. He leads all players in the playoffs with 17 points (4g-13a) while his linemate Trenton Bliss is just one point off the pace with 16 points (4g-12a). Colby Ambrosio leads all rookies in the post-season with nine points (3g-6a). In goal, Jan Bednar is 4-1 with a 2.62 goals-against average, while Carter Gylander is 4-1 with a 2.81 GAA. Fun Fact Mavericks head coach Tad O’Had is 23-13 in post-season play during his coaching career. His counterpart, Pat Mikesch, is 18-6 in the playoffs.
