Florida Everblades vs. Wheeling Nailers
Series Matchup Sheet

Florida and Wheeling meet in the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the second time. The Nailers won the only previous matchup, 4 games to 2, in the 2016 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals.
 
Florida is in the Conference Finals for the 11th time in team history and for the seventh time in the last eight postseasons. The Everblades have advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals seven times (2004, 2005, 2012, 2018, 2022, 2023 and 2024), capturing the Kelly Cup title in 2012, 2022, 2023 and 2024, with both totals ranking as the most in ECHL history. After sweeping Savannah in the South Division Semifinals, Florida eliminated South Carolina in five games in the South Division Finals.
 
Anthony Romano is tied for the playoff lead through two rounds with eight goals, while his 10 points are tied with Carson Gicewicz (5g-5a) for the team lead. Cole Moberg is tied for third among all defensemen in the playoffs with seven points (1g-6a). Cam Johnson, who is he ECHL all-time leader in postseason wins (65) and shutouts (15), ranks second in the playoffs with a 1.34 goals-against average and is third with a .945 save percentage. Johnson has received the Nick Vitucci Award as ECHL Goaltender of the Year in both 2025 and 2026.
 
Wheeling captured the North Division regular-season title for the first time since 2003-04 before defeating Reading 4 games to 1 in the North Division Semifinals and Maine 4 games to 3 in the North Division Finals. The home team won each game in the series against the Mariners.

Ryan McAllister paces the Nailers in the playoffs, and is tied for seventh in the postseason, with 11 points (4g-7a) through 12 games. Brayden Edwards’ 10 points (3g-7a) are tied for the lead among rookies in the playoffs while Zach Urdahl’s five goals are tied for the lead among first-year players. Taylor Gauthier, the 2024 recipient of the Nick Vitucci Award, is fifth with a 1.86 goals-against average and sixth with a .934 goals-against average to go along with a playoff-leading three shutouts.
 
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 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida
Game 2 - Saturday, May 23 at 7 p.m. ET at Florida
Game 3 - Wednesday, May 27 at 7:10 p.m. ET at Wheeling
Game 4 - Friday, May 29 at 7:10 p.m. ET at Wheeling
Game 5 - Saturday, May 30 at 7:10 p.m. ET at Wheeling (If Necessary)
Game 6 - Monday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida (If Necessary)
Game 7 - Wednesday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida (If Necessary)