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Conference Quarterfinals Recap

Published on April 14, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release


The 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs got off to a rousing start as 33 out of a possible 35 games were played in the Conference Quarterfinals with five of the series going to a Game 5 showdown.

In the American Conference, the No. 1 seeded Charlotte Checkers defeated the eighth-place Toledo Walleye in four games. After falling in the first game in Toledo, the Checkers rebounded with three straight wins, including a 5-4 overtime win in game four to clinch the series.

The Reading Royals, seeded seventh, prevailed over No. 2 Kalamazoo Wings in a back-and-forth series that went the distance. Three of the five games in the series went to overtime, including the last two. With a chance to close out the series in four games, Reading saw the K-Wings force overtime in the closing minute of the third period before scoring the game-winning goal just 2:51 into the extra session. The Royals bounced back in game five as Andrew Sarauer scored in overtime to give the series to Reading.

The No. 6 seed Florida Everblades won two out of three games in Elmira to defeat the Jackals in five games. Elmira staved off elimination in game four with a 6-3 win, but the Everblades prevailed in game five, 4-3.

For the third consecutive year, the South Carolina Stingrays met the Cincinnati Cyclones in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Nos. 4 and 5 seed, respectively. The previous two meetings took place in the American Conference Finals with the series winner going on to capture the Kelly Cup. After the teams split the first two games of the series in Cincinnati, the scene shifted to South Carolina where all three games went to overtime. The Cyclones had a chance to clinch the series after a 1-0 win in game three, but the Stingrays rebounded with a 3-2 win to force a fifth game. In the series finale, Cincinnati's Barret Ehgoetz scored his second goal of the game at 16:15 into overtime to push the Cyclones into the second round.

Over on the West Coast, the second seeded Bakersfield Condors needed five games to eliminate No. 7 Victoria. Trailing in the series 2-1, Bakersfield caused a deciding fifth game after a 5-2 win in game four. In the final game, the Condors' Dan Kissel scored with under a minute remaining in regulation to lift Bakersfield to a 2-1 win.

After dropping the first game of its series in Alaska, the sixth-place Stockton Thunder responded with three straight wins to defeat No. 3 Alaska Aces in four games. Stockton scored 23 goals in the series and the two teams combined to score 38 goals, the third highest total in a four-game series in ECHL history.

The Utah Grizzlies, a No. 4 seed, eliminated the No. 5 seed Las Vegas Wranglers in five games. Utah scored three third-period goals in game four to overcome a 2-1 deficit and force a fifth game. The Grizzlies got off to a quick start in game five, scoring four times in the first 25 minutes of the game, and went on to a 5-1 win to clinch the series.

American Conference Semifinals (Best of Seven)

#1 Charlotte Checkers vs. #5 Cincinnati Cyclones
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Charlotte is in the second round of the playoffs for the second time in the last four years, while Cincinnati has advanced to the second round for the fourth straight season. The Checkers won the Riley Cup in 1996 and advanced to the American Conference Finals in 2005. The Cyclones won the Kelly Cup in 2008 after advancing to the American Conference Finals in 2009 and the Northern Conference Finals in 2003.

Charlotte was 1-2-0 against the Cyclones in the regular season, while Cincinnati went 2-1-0 against the Checkers.

Kenny Roche (1g-1a), Matt Schepke (1g-1a) and Mike Taylor (0g-2a) lead Charlotte against the Cyclones with two points. Barret Ehgoetz leads Cincinnati against the Checkers with six points (3g-3a). Charlotte's Ryan Munce is 1-2-0 with a 3.72 goals-against average against the Cyclones. Cincinnati's Jeremy Smith, who leads the Kelly Cup Playoffs with a 1.60 goals-against average, is 1-1-0 with a 2.53 goals-against average against the Checkers.

Friday, April 16 7 p.m. ET
Cincinnati at Charlotte

Saturday, April 17 7 p.m. ET
Cincinnati at Charlotte

Wednesday, April 21 7:30 p.m. ET
Charlotte at Cincinnati

Friday, April 23 7:30 p.m. ET
Charlotte at Cincinnati

Saturday, April 24 7:30 p.m. ET
Charlotte at Cincinnati (if necessary)

Monday, April 26 7 p.m. ET
Cincinnati at Charlotte (if necessary)

Wednesday, April 28 7 p.m. ET
Cincinnati at Charlotte (if necessary)

#6 Florida Everblades vs. #7 Reading Royals
Click For Match-Up Sheet

Florida is appearing in the second round for the second consecutive year and for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Reading has gone to the second round in four of its five playoff appearances. The Everblades reached the Kelly Cup Finals in 2004 and 2005 and the American Conference Finals in 2007. The Royals were eliminated by Florida in their lone Conference Finals appearance in 2004.

Florida was 2-3-0 against the Royals in the regular season, while Reading was 3-1-1 against the Everblades.

Scott Hotham leads Florida against the Royals with six points (1g-5a). Ryan Cruthers (4g-5a) and Ben Gordon (3g-6a) lead Reading against the Everblades with nine points each. Florida goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu is 1-1-0 with a 2.55 goals-against average against the Royals. Reading's Matt Dalton is 2-1-1 with a 2.46 goals-against average against the Everblades.

Wednesday, April 14 7:05 p.m.
Florida at Reading

Thursday, April 15 7:05 p.m.
Florida at Reading

Saturday, April 17 7:30 p.m.
Reading at Florida

Tuesday, April 20 7:30 p.m.
Reading at Florida

Friday, April 23 7:30 p.m.
Reading at Florida (if necessary)

Saturday, April 24 7:30 p.m.
Reading at Florida (if necessary)

Tuesday, April 27 7:05 p.m.
Florida at Reading (if necessary)

National Conference Semifinals (Best of Seven)

#1 Idaho Steelheads vs. #4 Utah Grizzlies
Click For Match-Up Sheet

Idaho has qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs in each of its seven seasons in the league, and won the Kelly Cup in 2004 and 2007. Utah is in the second round for the second time in the last three seasons.

Idaho was 10-3-1 against the Grizzlies in the regular season while Utah was 4-7-3 against the Steelheads.

Mark Derlago leads Idaho against the Grizzlies with 15 points (6g-9a). Ryan Kinasewich leads Utah against the Steelheads with 10 goals and 16 points. Idaho's Rejean Beauchemin is 5-1-0 with a 2.59 goals-against average against the Grizzlies.

Friday, April 16 7:10 p.m. MT
Utah @ Idaho

Saturday, April 17 7:10 p.m. MT
Utah @ Idaho

Tuesday, April 20 7:05 p.m. MT
Idaho @ Utah

Friday, April 23 7:05 p.m. MT
Idaho @ Utah

Saturday, April 24 7:05 p.m. MT
Idaho @ Utah (if necessary)

Tuesday, April 27 7:10 p.m. MT
Utah @ Idaho (if necessary)

Wednesday, April 28 7:10 p.m. MT
Utah @ Idaho (if necessary)

#2 Bakersfield Condors vs. #6 Stockton Thunder
Click For Match-Up Sheet

Bakersfield is making its third appearance in the second round in the last five years while Stockton has advanced to the second round for the second consecutive year.

Bakersfield was 6-4-2 against the Thunder in the regular season, while Stockton was also 6-4-2 against the Condors.

Stephane Goulet leads Bakersfield against the Thunder with 13 points (8g-5a) while Oren Eizenman leads Stockton against the Condors with 15 points (5g-10a). Bakersfield's Timo Pielmeier is 5-4-2 with a 3.63 goals-against average against the Thunder. Stockton's Bryan Pitton is 4-2-0 with a 2.66 goals-against average against the Condors.

Friday, April 16 7 p.m. PT
Stockton at Bakersfield

Saturday, April 17 7 p.m. PT
Stockton at Bakersfield

Wednesday, April 21 7 p.m. PT
Bakersfield at Stockton

Friday, April 23 7:30 p.m. PT
Bakersfield at Stockton

Saturday, April 24 7:30 p.m. PT
Bakersfield at Stockton (if necessary)

Tuesday, April 27 7 p.m. PT
Stockton at Bakersfield (if necessary)

Wednesday, April 28 7 p.m. PT
Stockton at Bakersfield (if necessary)

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