Eastern Conference Finals Preview

Eastern Conference Finals (Best of Seven)

Adirondack Thunder vs. Florida Everblades
Series Matchup Sheet

For the second time in the last seven years, the Adirondack Thunder take on the Florida Everblades in the Eastern Conference Finals. Florida prevailed 4 games to 1 in the 2018 meeting between the teams.
 
The Thunder captured the North Division regular-season title with a 43-18-11 record for 97 points before defeating Maine 4 games to 3 in the Division Semifinals and Norfolk 4 games to 2 in the Division Finals. In the latter series, Adirondack dropped the first two games at home before reeling off four consecutive wins to reach the Conference Finals. The Thunder have been stingy on defense, ranking third in the playoffs with 2.15 goals-against per game while allowing more than two goals in just four of their 13 postseason games.
 
Tristan Ashbrook is tied for the playoff lead with seven goals and is tied for second with 13 points, along with his teammate Shane Harper (5g-8a) while Ryan Smith is tied for the playoff lead with three game-winning goals. Isaac Poulter has played in 11 of Adirondack’s 13 playoff games posting a record of 6-5 while ranking second in both goals-against average (1.74) and save percentage (.940).
 
Florida is appearing in the Conference Finals for the ninth time in team history and for the fifth time in the last six postseasons. The Everblades have advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals six times (2004, 2005, 2012, 2018, 2022 and 2023), capturing the Kelly Cup title in 2012, 2022 and 2023, with both totals tied for the most in ECHL history. Florida rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat Jacksonville in seven games in the South Division Semifinals before eliminating Orlando 4 games to 1 in the South Division Finals. The Everblades’ 10 consecutive series wins is the longest such streak in ECHL postseason history.
 
The Everblades have featured a balanced offense in the postseason with 10 players posting seven or more points. Bobo Caprenter (5g-5a), Matt Wedman (3g-7a) and Josh Ho-Sang (0g-10a) share the team lead with 10 points each while Cole Moberg leads all players in the playoffs in plus-minus at +11 and is tied for first among defensemen with four goals. Cam Johnson, who has received the June M. Kelly Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award in each of the last two postseasons, has played all 12 games for the Everblades, ranking fourth with a 1.94 goals-against average and fifth with a .933 save percentage.

Adirondack and Florida met six times during the regular season with the Thunder going 2-4-0 and the Everblades posting a 4-1-1 record. Harper led Adirondack with four goals and shared the team scoring lead with Smith (2g-2a) with four points each. Jeremy Brodeur went 1-1-0 with a 1.43 goals-against average in three appearances. Florida was led by Oliver Chau and Mark Senden, who both scored four goals while Carpenter (3g-3a) and Sean Josling (1g-5a) both posted a team-leading six points. Johnson went 4-0-1 in five appearances against the Thunder with a 1.80 goals-against average. 
 
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 2010.

Game 1 - Friday, May 17 at 7 p.m. ET at Adirondack
Game 2 - Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m. ET at Adirondack
Game 3 - Wednesday, May 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida
Game 4 - Friday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida
Game 5 - Saturday, May 25 at 7 p.m. ET at Florida (If Necessary)
Game 6 - Tuesday, May 28 at 7 p.m. ET at Adirondack (If Necessary)
Game 7 - Wednesday, May 29 at 7 p.m. ET at Adirondack (If Necessary)