ECHL ECHL

Kelly Cup Playoff Races Go Down To The Wire

Published on March 26, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release


PRINCETON, N.J. - A big weekend of games looms in the ECHL National Conference as seven teams continue to battle for six playoff spots.

The Idaho Steelheads are the lone team from the conference to have secured a playoff berth. Idaho, which can secure its first Brabham Cup tonight, has also earned a bye in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Entering tonight's game, just five points separate second-place Bakersfield (73 pts.) from eighth place Ontario (68 pts.). The top seven teams in the National Conference advance to the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Bakersfield continues its three-game series in Utah with games tonight and Saturday. With 70 points, the Grizzlies are tied with Victoria for fourth place in the conference. The Salmon Kings are in Boise for games against Idaho tonight and tomorrow, before returning home for a season-ending three-game series against Utah beginning on Wednesday.

The Alaska Aces are unbeaten in regulation in their last nine games (6-0-3), and are in third place in the conference with 72 points. Alaska is in Ontario for games tonight and Saturday, and then returns home for a pair of games against Idaho on Tuesday and Wednesday and two against Stockton on April 2 and 3.

Stockton hosts Las Vegas for three games tonight, Saturday and Sunday. The two teams are tied for the final two playoff spots with 69 points each. The Wranglers close the regular season at home next week with three games against Ontario starting on Thursday.

The playoff race is a little more settled in the American Conference, where the top eight teams advance to the post-season. Five teams have clinched spots, with Elmira needing two points to secure its berth.

Reading currently owns the seventh spot in the conference with 73 points. The Royals continue their southern road trip tonight playing at South Carolina, before heading to Charlotte for games on Saturday and Sunday.

Toledo sits in eighth place with 72 points, and has a four-point edge on Wheeling for the final spot, while Gwinnett and Trenton are both five points behind the Walleye. Toledo visits Johnstown tonight before returning home for its final two home games of the regular season against Wheeling on Saturday and Kalamazoo on Sunday. The Nailers host Kalamazoo tonight before traveling to Toledo on Saturday. Gwinnett is home for games against Florida on Saturday and Sunday, while Trenton plays at Elmira tonight before returning home to host the Jackals for three straight games on Saturday, Sunday and April 2.

The 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs schedule is as follows: Conference Quarterfinals (April 5-12, 2010), Conference Semifinals (April 14-28, 2010), Conference Finals (April 30-May 12, 2010) and Kelly Cup Finals (May 14-28, 2010). The Conference Quarterfinals are best-of-five series, while all other series are best-of-seven.

The third-longest tenured professional hockey league, behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the Premier 'AA' Hockey League has grown from five teams in four states in 1988-89 into a coast-to-coast league with 20 teams in 15 states and British Columbia in 2009-10.

Check out the ECHL Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from March 26, 2010


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central