ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs Division Finals Preview
April 23, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release
The 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs Division Finals begin on Friday with the
winners of the best-of-seven series advancing to the Conference Finals
scheduled for May 8-May 20.
#1 Cincinnati Cyclones (41-26-5) vs. #3 Elmira Jackals (39-26-7)
Click For Match-Up Sheet
Defending Kelly Cup champion Cincinnati is in the North Division Finals for the third year in a row after beating Wheeling 2-1 in double overtime in Game 7 on Monday. Elmira advanced for the first time in the Kelly Cup Playoffs with a 5-3 win in Game 7 at Trenton on Tuesday becoming only the fourth team in history to win Game 7 on the road. The Cyclones are in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the third year in a row and the fifth time in six seasons while the Jackals have advanced to the postseason both years since joining the league as an expansion team in 2007-08.
The Cyclones are 1-3 at U.S. Bank Arena and 3-0 on the road while Elmira is 2-1 at First Arena and 2-2 on the road. The Jackals, who were 1-0-1 at home and 4-2-1 overall in the regular season against Cincinnati, played three overtime games in their opening series including a 5-4 win in four overtimes in the longest game in league history (126:10) on Apr. 10 at Trenton.
Cincinnati's Chuck Weber has become the second coach to win a playoff series in each of his first three seasons. Davis Payne won a series in each of his three seasons in Pee Dee from 2000-03 and won a series in each of his four seasons in Alaska from 2004-08. Elmira's Steve Martinson is the first coach to lead two expansion teams to the Kelly Cup Playoffs with San Diego in 2004 and Elmira in 2008.
Elmira goaltender Michael Teslak is 4-2 and ranks fourth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs with a goals-against average of 1.83 and fifth with a save percentage of .942. He is tied for second with one shutout and had a scoreless streak of 178:51 from 10:52 of the third period in Game 1 to 3:33 of the third period in Game 5. Cincinnati goaltender Loic Lacasse is 4-2 with a goals-against average of 2.64 and a save percentage of .902. He has not allowed a goal in the last 60:26.
The Jackals are fifth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs on the power play with 20.0 percent (8-for-40) and fifth on the penalty kill with 88.6 percent (31-for-35) while the Cyclones are ninth on the penalty kill with 82.6 percent (38-for-46) and 13th on the power play with 10.8 percent (4-for-37). Elmira is tied for fourth with 3.86 goals per game and is sixth with a goals-against average of 2.86 while Cincinnati is seventh with a goals-against average of 3.00 and 12th with 2.43 goals per game.
Cyclones' Matt Syroczynski leads the Kelly Cup Playoffs with four power-play goals while Elmira's Paul McIlveen is first with six power-play assists and six power-play points. Elmira's Pierre-Luc Faubert has a seven-game point streak (6g-3a) which is tied for the longest in this postseason.
Jimmy Kilpatrick led the Cyclones in the regular season against Elmira with four goals and seven points in five games while Kaleb Betts led the Jackals against Cincinnati with four goals and tied with seven other players for the team lead with five points.
Elmira at Cincinnati
Saturday, Apr. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Elmira at Cincinnati
Wednesday, Apr. 29 at 7:05 p.m.
Cincinnati at Elmira
Friday, May 1 at 7:35 p.m.
Cincinnati at Elmira
Saturday, May 2 at 7:35 p.m.
Cincinnati at Elmira (If Necessary)
Tuesday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Elmira at Cincinnati (If Necessary)
Wednesday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Elmira at Cincinnati (If Necessary)
American Conference - South Division Finals (Best of Seven)
#1 Florida Everblades (49-17-5) vs. #2 South Carolina Stingrays (42-23-6)
Florida eliminated South Carolina from the Kelly Cup Playoffs in the
conference quarterfinals in 2005, in the division finals in 2004 and in the
wild card game in 2002.
The Everblades have qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs in every one of
their 11 seasons while the Stingrays have qualified a league record 15
times in 16 seasons. Florida advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals in 2004 and
2005 and to the conference finals in 2007. South Carolina won the first
Kelly Cup and became the first team to win both the regular season and
postseason titles in the same year in 1997. The Stingrays, who are the
all-time leader with 122 postseason games and 65 postseason wins, became
the first two-time Kelly Cup winner in 2001 and advanced to the conference
finals in 2008.
South Carolina won the last two meetings to improve to 3-3-0 at home and
6-6-0 overall in the regular season against the Everblades. Florida won the
last two home games against the Stingrays and was 3-3-0 at home and 6-5-1
overall in the regular season.
Kevin Baker led the Everblades against South Carolina with nine goals and
18 points in 12 games while defenseman Peter Metcalf tied Baker for the
team lead with nine assists and was fourth on the team with nine points in
eight games. Michael Dubuc led the Stingrays against Florida with nine
goals and 16 points in 10 games while Travis Morin and Pierre-Luc O'Brien
tied for the team lead with eight assists and ranked second and third,
respectively, with 14 and 12 points.
Florida rookie David Leggio was 2-2-1 with a goals-against average of 2.81
in seven games against the Stingrays while Jonathan Boutin was 2-1-0 with a
goals-against average of 3.13 against the Everblades.
Florida leads the Kelly Cup Playoffs on the power play with 25.8 percent
(8-for-31) while South Carolina is third with 23.7 percent (9-for-38). The
Stingrays lead the postseason with 4.33 goals per game while the Everblades
are tied for seventh with 3.20. Florida is third in goals-against average
with 2.20 and South Carolina is eighth with 3.17.
South Carolina's Maxime Lacroix is tied for the rookie lead in the Kelly
Cup Playoffs with three power-play assists and four power-play points. Brad
Farynuk of the Stingrays leads league defensemen in the postseason with
three power-play goals and is tied for the postseason lead with three goals
and five power-play points. Florida's Peter Metcalf leads defensemen with
four power-play assists and is tied for the lead with five assists while
his four power-play points and six points tie him for second. Stingrays
rookie Nikita Kashirsky has a four-game assist streak (4a) and a six-game
point streak (1g-6a).
South Carolina at Florida
Saturday, Apr. 25 at 7:30 p.m.
South Carolina at Florida
Friday, May 1 at 7:05 p.m.
Florida at South Carolina
Saturday, May 2 at 7:05 p.m.
Florida at South Carolina
Sunday, May 3 at 5 p.m.
Florida at South Carolina (If Necessary)
Tuesday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m.
South Carolina at Florida (If Necessary)
Wednesday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m.
South Carolina at Florida (If Necessary)
National Conference - West Division Finals (Best of Seven)
#1 Alaska Aces (45-24-3) vs. #3 Victoria Salmon Kings (38-27-7)
Click For Match-Up Sheet
Alaska is the first team to advance in the postseason each of its first six
seasons and the first team to advance six consecutive years. Victoria has
advanced for the second straight year and is making its third appearance in
a row. The Aces finished first in the division for the fourth time in the
last five seasons and atop the National Conference for the third time.
Alaska became the second team to win the Kelly Cup and the Brabham Cup, the
trophy presented to the regular season champion, in the same season in 2006
and they reached the conference finals in 2007 and 2005.
The Aces won the last two meetings to improve to 6-1-0 at home and 8-5-0
overall in the regular season against Victoria. The Salmon Kings won the
last three meetings at Victoria and were 4-1-1 at home and 5-4-4 overall
with five of their losses being by one goal including three in shootouts
and one in overtime.
Colin Hemingway led the Aces against Victoria with 12 points in 12 games
while tying Lance Galbraith for the team lead with five goals. Luke
Erickson led Alaska with nine assists and tied Cam Keith (3g-8a) for second
with 11 points in 13 games. Wes Goldie led the Salmon Kings against Alaska
with nine goals and 13 points in 13 games while Olivier Filion had a
team-high seven assists and was second with 10 points. Aces rookie
Jean-Philippe Lamoureux was 4-4-0 with a goals-against average of 2.63
against Victoria while the Salmon Kings' Todd Ford was 3-2-1 with a
goals-against average of 2.50 and Julien Ellis was 1-0-2 with a
goals-against average of 1.58 against Alaska.
Victoria's Todd Ford leads the Kelly Cup Playoffs with a goals-against
average of 0.95 and a save percentage of .972 while Alaska rookie
Jean-Philippe Lamoureux is second with 1.38 and .955. Lamoureux leads the
postseason with two shutouts after setting the league record with eight in
the regular season while Ford is tied for second with one.
Alaska leads the Kelly Cup Playoffs on the penalty kill with 100 percent
(23-for-23) after setting a league record with a penalty kill of 89.3
percent in the regular season. The Salmon Kings are second in the
postseason on the penalty kill with 94.4 percent (17-for-18) and fourth in
the postseason on the power play with 21.1 percent (4-for-19) while the
Aces are 14th with 8.7 percent (2-for-23). The Salmon Kings lead the
postseason with a goals-against average of 1.00 and are tied for second
with 4.00 goals per game while Alaska is second in goals-against average
with 1.40 and tied for seventh with 3.20 goals per game.
Victoria at Alaska
Saturday, Apr. 25 at 7:15 p.m.
Victoria at Alaska
Wednesday, Apr. 29 at 7:05 p.m.
Alaska at Victoria
Friday, May 1 at 7:05 p.m.
Alaska at Victoria
Saturday, May 2 at 7:05 p.m.
Alaska at Victoria (If Necessary)
Tuesday, May 5 at 7:15 p.m.
Victoria at Alaska (If Necessary)
Wednesday, May 6 at 7:15 p.m.
Victoria at Alaska (If Necessary)
National Conference - Pacific Division Finals (Best of Seven)
#2 Las Vegas Wranglers (34-31-8) vs. #4 Stockton Thunder (32-33-7)
Click For Match-Up Sheet
Las Vegas is in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the fourth year in a row and the
fifth time in six years while the Thunder are back in the postseason for
the third straight season. The Wranglers have advanced each of the last
four years while Stockton has advanced for the first time. Las Vegas has
lost to the Kelly Cup winner every time that they have reached the
postseason with Idaho in 2004 and 2007, Alaska in 2006 and Cincinnati in
the Kelly Cup Finals in 2008.
Glen Gulutzan of the Wranglers is 32-24 in the Kelly Cup Playoffs and was
named ECHL Coach of the Year in 2005-06 and has been selected to coach in
the ECHL All-Star Game three times, tying him for the most appearances.
Matt Thomas has never missed the Kelly Cup Playoffs in five seasons as a
head coach and in 2006 he led Fresno to the conference finals before losing
in double overtime to eventual Kelly Cup champion Alaska in Game 7. He
coached in the ECHL All-Star Game in 2005 and 2008.
The Wranglers won the last two meetings to improve to 3-0-0 at home and
3-3-0 overall in the regular season against while the Thunder were 3-0-0 at
home and 3-3-0 overall against Las Vegas. John DeCaro of the Wranglers was
2-1-0 with a shutout and a goals-against average of 0.95 against Stockton
while the Thunder's Andrew Perugini was 2-1-0 with a goals-against average
of 2.33 against Las Vegas. Mike Lalonde led the Thunder against Las Vegas
with five assists and seven points while rookie James Bates had a team-high
four goals and six points. Mick Lawrence led the Wranglers against Stockton
with three goals and his four points tied him for the team lead with Kevin
DeVerrgilio (2g-2a), Scott McCulloch (1g-3a) and Tyler Mosienko (1g-3a).
Las Vegas is third in the Kelly Cup Playoffs on the power play with 24.3
percent (9-for-37) while Stockton is tied for 10th with 14.3 percent
(5-for-35). The Thunder are tied for fourth with 3.86 goals per game and
are tied for 14th with a goals-against average of 4.00 while the Wranglers
are fourth with a goals-against average of 2.29 and sixth with 3.57 goals
per game.
Stockton's Craig Valette leads the Kelly Cup Playoffs with three
game-winning goals while teammate James Bates, who has a four-game goal
streak (5g), is tied for the rookie lead with five goals. Las Vegas' J.D.
Watt is tied for the rookie lead with two power-play goals and four
power-play points. Stockton's Cleve Kinley and Las Vegas' Dan Spang are
tied for the postseason lead among defensemen with three goals and seven
points and Spang is also tied for the power-play points lead with five
(2ppg-3ppaa).
Las Vegas at Stockton
Monday, Apr. 27 7:30 p.m.
Stockton at Las Vegas
Thursday, Apr. 30 7 p.m.
Las Vegas at Stockton
Saturday, May 2 7:30 p.m.
Las Vegas at Stockton
Monday, May 4 7:30 p.m.
Stockton at Las Vegas
Tuesday, May 5 7:30 p.m.
Stockton at Las Vegas
Wednesday, May 6 7:30 p.m.
Stockton at Las Vegas
B2 Networks Scheduled To Broadcast Every Game In Kelly Cup Playoffs Division Finals
PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL announced that B2 Networks, the "Official
Broadband Broadcast Provider of the ECHL," is scheduled to broadcast every
game in the Division Finals of the 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs beginning
Friday.
B2
Networks has broadcast ECHL games around the globe the last six years
including the Kelly Cup Finals and the ECHL All-Star Game. The first hockey
game broadcast by B2 Networks was the Las
Vegas Wranglers in February 2004 and the first hockey championship carried
by B2
Networks was the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
The first channel on B2CableTV.com, a free 24-hour
cable-style network dedicated to broadcasting sports and entertainment to
viewers worldwide, was ECHL TV which allows
fans to watch the biggest games from the previous week for free. B2CableTV.com also offers
ECHLALLSTARTV which broadcasts ECHL All-Star Games 24 hours a day for
free.
To watch ECHL TV and
ECHLALLSTARTV fans can go to B2CableTV.com and click on the "Hockey"
tab. Viewers will need a high-speed internet connection and a current
version of Microsoft Windows Media Player to watch the Network. All events
on ECHL
TV and ECHLALLSTARTV are free
of charge and available 24 hours a day.
B2
Networks is a premier provider of reliable and secure international
television and pay-per-view broadcasting systems. B2's installed
technologies and worldwide network of arenas, stadiums, local venues and
data centers are currently in use to distribute live sports and
entertainment programming to personal computers, television screens, mobile
devices and commercial venues around the world. Working with professional
sports leagues, teams, NCAA and NAIA institutions and producers of
entertainment programming, B2 Networks has established itself as a leader
in innovative global direct to home, mobile and television broadcasting.
The B2 Networks LIVE Programming Guide is available at B2TV.com while
B2CableTV.com provides 24-hour cable-style programming.
PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL announced that ECHL score updates are now
available on Twitter.
Click
here to sign up to receive ECHL score updates on Twitter to your mobile
phone, instant -messaging device, email and on the internet.
Kelly Cup Playoffs Results
American Conference - North Division Semifinals
#1 Cincinnati Cyclones (41-26-5) vs. #4 Wheeling Nailers (36-28-8)
Cincinnati Wins Series 4-3
Game 1 - WHEELING 4 at Cincinnati 1
Game 2 - WHEELING 3 at Cincinnati 1
Game 3 - CINCINNATI 7 at Wheeling 3
Game 4 - CINCINNATI 4 at Wheeling 3
Game 5 - CINCINNATI 2 at Wheeling 1
Game 6 - WHEELING 6 at Cincinnati 0
Game 7 - Wheeling 1 at CINCINNATI 2 (2 OT)
#2 Trenton Devils (40-25-7) vs. #3 Elmira Jackals (39-26-7)
Elmira Wins Series 4-3
Game 1 - ELMIRA 5 at Trenton 4 (4 OT)
Game 2 - Elmira 5 at TRENTON 6
Game 3 - Trenton 0 at ELMIRA 5
Game 4 - Trenton 1 at ELMIRA 3
Game 5 - TRENTON 3 at Elmira 2 (OT)
Game 6 - Elmira 2 at TRENTON 3 (2 OT)
Game 7 - ELMIRA 5 at Trenton 3
American Conference - South Division Semifinals
#1 Florida Everblades (49-17-5) vs. #4 Gwinnett Gladiators (31-35-6)
Florida Wins Series 4-1
Game 1 - Gwinnett 3 at FLORIDA 5
Game 2 - Gwinnett 2 at FLORIDA 3 (OT)
Game 3 - Florida 2 at GWINNETT 3 (OT)
Game 4 - FLORIDA 4 at GWINNETT 2
Game 5 - FLORIDA 2 at GWINNETT 1
#2 South Carolina Stingrays (42-23-6) vs. #3 Charlotte Checkers
(34-29-8)
South Carolina Wins Series 4-2
Game 1 - South Carolina 3 at CHARLOTTE 5
Game 2 - South Carolina 3 at
CHARLOTTE 5
Game 3 - Charlotte 2 at SOUTH CAROLINA 4
Game 4 -
Charlotte 1 at SOUTH CAROLINA 4
Game 5 - Charlotte 3 at SOUTH CAROLINA 8
Game 6 - SOUTH CAROLINA 4 at Charlotte 2
National Conference - West Division Semifinals
#1 Alaska Aces (45-24-3) vs. #4 Utah Grizzlies (32-30-10)
Alaska Wins Series 4-1
Game 1 - Utah 0 at ALASKA 2
Game 2 - Utah 0 at ALASKA 2
Game 3 - Alaska 2 at UTAH 3 (OT)
Game 4 - ALASKA 5 at Utah 2
Game 5 - ALASKA 5 at Utah 2
# 2 Idaho Steelheads (44-24-4) vs. #3 Victoria Salmon Kings (38-27-7)
Victoria Wins Series 4-0
Game 1 - VICTORIA 3 at Idaho 1
Game 2 - VICTORIA 2 at Idaho 0
Game 3 - Idaho 2 at VICTORIA 9
Game 4 - Idaho 1 at VICTORIA 2 (OT)
National Conference - Pacific Division Semifinals
#1 Ontario Reign (38-29-6) vs. #4 Stockton Thunder (32-33-7)
Stockton Wins Series 4-3
Game 1 - Stockton 3 at ONTARIO 4
Game 2 - STOCKTON 6 at Ontario 5
Game 3 - ONTARIO 5 at Stockton 1
Game 4 - Ontario 4 at STOCKTON 5 (OT)
Game 5 - Ontario 2 at STOCKTON 4
Game 6 - Stockton 3 at ONTARIO 4
Game 7 - STOCKTON 5 at Ontario 4
#2 Las Vegas Wranglers (34-31-8) vs. #3 Bakersfield Condors (33-31-8)
Las Vegas Wins Series 4-3
Game 1 - Bakersfield 1 at LAS VEGAS 3
Game 2 - BAKERSFIELD 3 at Las Vegas 2
Game 3 - Las Vegas 5 at BAKERSFIELD 6 (OT)
Game 4 - LAS VEGAS 4 at Bakersfield 0
Game 5 - Las Vegas 3 at BAKERSFIELD 4
Game 6 - Bakersfield 1 at LAS VEGAS 3
Game 7 - Bakersfield 1 at LAS VEGAS 5
Kelly Cup Champions
2008 - Cincinnati defeated Las Vegas, 4 games to 1
2007 - Idaho defeated Dayton, 4 games to 1
2006 - Alaska defeated Gwinnett, 4 games to 1
2005 - Trenton defeated Florida, 4 games to 2
2004 - Idaho defeated Florida, 4 games to 1
2003 - Atlantic City defeated Columbia, 4 games to 1
2002 - Greenville defeated Dayton, 4 games to 0
2001 - South Carolina defeated Trenton, 4 games to 1
2000 - Peoria defeated Louisiana, 4 games to 2
1999 - Mississippi defeated Richmond, 4 games to 3
1998 - Hampton Roads defeated Pensacola, 4 games to 2
1997 - South Carolina defeated Louisiana, 4 games to 1
Kelly Cup Playoffs Bracket
Kelly Cup Playoffs Schedule By Team
ECHL Stories from April 23, 2009
- Pink on the Turf Returns to Qwest Arena on May 2 - Idaho Steelheads
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs Division Finals Preview - ECHL
- Wranglers Kelly Cup Daily - Las Vegas Wranglers
- North Division Finals Preview - Elmira Jackals
- Kelly Cup Quest Daily - South Carolina Stingrays
- Bombers Equipment Sale This Weekend - Dayton Bombers
- Reign Falls To Thunder In Game 7, 5-4 - Ontario Reign
- Wranglers Meet Thunder in Pacific Division Finals - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Wranglers Advance in Game Seven, Ground Condors 5-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Thunder eliminate the Pacific Division champs in seven - Stockton Thunder
- Wranglers take down Condors in Game Seven - Bakersfield Condors
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
