Eastern Conference Finals (Best of Seven) 

Florida Everblades vs. Newfoundland GrowlersSeries Matchup Sheet

The top two teams in the Eastern Conference during the regular season meet with a spot in the Kelly Cup Finals up for grabs. Florida finished on top of the conference in the regular season, and was second overall in the ECHL, with a 50-16-6 record for 106 points while Newfoundland was third overall in the league with a 43-21-8 record for 94 points.

Florida is appearing in the Conference Finals for the second consecutive season, and for the sixth time in team history. The Everblades have advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals four times (2004, 2005, 2012 and 2018), capturing the Kelly Cup title in 2012. Florida defeated Jacksonville 4 games to 2 in the South Division Semifinals and Orlando 4 games to 1 in the South Division Finals. The Everblades lead the postseason with 1.73 goals-against per game and after finishing second in the league during the regular season with 27 home wins, Florida is 4-1 at Hertz Arena in the playoffs, having outscored its opponents 16-8.

Blake Winiecki leads the Everblades in the postseason with 12 points (8g-4a), which leads all rookies across the league and is tied for fifth overall. Ben Masella has added 10 points (4g-6a) to lead all defensemen in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Callum Booth has posted a 6-1 record in his seven appearances with one shutout, and a playoff-leading 1.14 goals-against average and a .960 save percentage. Booth has allowed two goals or less in each of his seven outings.

Newfoundland captured the North Division regular-season title and has advanced to the Conference Finals in its first season in team history. The Growlers have won a pair of six-game series in the first two rounds, defeating Brampton in the North Division Semifinals and Manchester in the North Division Finals. Newfoundland has also fared well on home ice during the postseason with a 5-1 record. The Growlers have gone 5-0 when scoring the first goal of game during their playoff run.

Zach O’Brien is tied for second among all players in the playoffs with 10 goals and is third with 18 points. Marcus Power has 11 points (2g-9a) to rank second among rookies while Michael Garteig has gone 8-4 in goal with a 2.42 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. Garteig ranks second among goaltenders in the playoffs in minutes played (744) and saves (358).

The two teams split a pair of meetings in St. John’s during the opening weekend of the 2018-19 regular season. Kyle Platzer led Florida in the two games with two goals, while Power and Scott Pooley shared the Growlers’ lead with two points each.

The winner of the Eastern Conference Finals receives the E.A. “Bud” Gingher Memorial Trophy. The trophy is named in recognition of E.A. “Bud” Gingher, who was Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors from 1992-95. Gingher, who passed away in 2002, co-founded the Dayton Bombers in 1991 and owned the team for seven seasons, serving as President and Governor until selling the team in 1998. Gingher was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2009.Game 1 – Friday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. ET at FloridaGame 2 – Saturday, May 11 at 7 p.m. ET at FloridaGame 3 – Wednesday, May 15 at 7 p.m. NT at NewfoundlandGame 4 – Friday, May 17 at 7 p.m. NT at NewfoundlandGame 5 – Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m. NT at Newfoundland (If Necessary)Game 6 – Tuesday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida (If Necessary)Game 7 – Wednesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida (If Necessary)

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