r/ECHL

Feels like every division final has its own storyline right now. You’ve got the Florida Everblades trying to keep their playoff reputation alive, Kansas City looking dangerous again, Toledo vs Fort Wayne turning into another war, and Wheeling making a serious run.

One thing I love about the ECHL is how unpredictable it gets once playoffs start. A lot of these teams don’t have huge national attention, but the intensity honestly feels closer to old-school hockey sometimes.

What series has been the most entertaining for you so far? And who’s your pick to win the Kelly Cup this year?

Jonsson is a stud. He absolutely swung this game in the first period with his play keeping the Komets in it. Dufour is turning into a total walleye killer and I love it. Toledo is on the ropes!

If your team missed or has been eliminated from the playoffs, who do you want to see play in the Kelly Cup Final, and who would you like to see win?

North Division Finals
#1 Wheeling Nailers at #2 Maine Mariners 7 p.m. ET
Series tied 2-2
Series Matchup Sheet

• Wheeling’s Brayden Edwards is on a four-game point streak (2g-2a).
• Maine’s Jacob Hudson is tied for the playoff lead with six goals and 13 points.
• Nailers have outscored their opponents 6-2 in the third period.
• Mariners have gone to overtime in five of their 11 playoff games.
• Game 6 is Saturday at 7:10 p.m. ET at Wheeling.

South Division Finals
#1 Florida Everblades at #2 South Carolina Stingrays 7:05 p.m. ET
Florida leads series 2-0
Series Matchup Sheet

• Anthony Romano leads Florida in the series with five goals.
• South Carolina’s Romain Rodzinski leads defensemen with three goals.
• Everblades are least-penalized team in the playoffs with 6.50 penalty minutes per game.
• Stingrays are 3-0 when leading after two periods.
• Game 4 is Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET at South Carolina.

Mountain Division Finals
#1 Kansas City Mavericks at #2 Allen Americans 7:10 p.m. CT
Kansas City leads series 2-0
Series Matchup Sheet

• Kansas City’s Dylan Wells leads the playoffs with a 0.62 goals-against average.
• Allen’s Danny Katic is tied for the playoff lead with six goals.
• Mavericks lead the playoffs with 23.83 shots-against per game.
• Americans have scored 10 of their 21 goals in the third period.
• Game 4 is Saturday at 7:10 p.m. CT at Allen.

Other 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs Series
Central Division Finals
#1 Fort Wayne Komets vs. #2 Toledo Walleye
Fort Wayne leads series 2-0
Series Matchup Sheet

If we're being honest, this should not be happening. We should be seeing some fierce competition with at least 5 top teams competing closely because that gap in points between Kansas City Mavericks and Fort Wayne is damn too big.

I am not complaining, but we need more effort from other teams to make the competition more interesting. I shouldn't go to the game already knowing who is going to win.

If they play against the Heartlanders, I should at least expect a good fight and even see the Heartlanders win occasionally.

But on the other hand, if the Mavericks are well trained, funded and prepared, let them win so the other teams could wake up too.

The refs absolutely blew the bag on that one.
The puck crossed the line and even if you say it didn’t wells moved it in on his own and it wasent goalie interference because one guy from KC was blocking aschuck from wells anyways am I missing something because that was a good goal in my books.

just started watching the komets was thinking about starting a podcast/youtube channel breaking down games , are there any podcasts like that exclusively for the komets?

North Division Finals
#2 Maine Mariners at #1 Wheeling Nailers 7:10 p.m. ET
Game 1
Series Matchup Sheet

• Maine’s Jacob Hudson is tied for second with five goals.
• Wheeling’s Taylor Gauthier leads the playoffs with a 0.71 goals-against average and .974 save percentage.
• Mariners are second with 35.14 shots per game.
• Nailers are second on the penalty kill at 94.4 percent (17-for-18).
• Game 2 is Saturday at 7:10 p.m. ET at Wheeling.

South Division Finals
#2 South Carolina Stingrays at #1 Florida Everblades 7:30 p.m. ET
Game 1
Series Matchup Sheet

• South Carolina’s Stanley Cooley is tied for the playoff lead in plus-minus at +8.
• Florida’s Carson Gicewicz is on a three-game goal streak (4g).
• Stingrays have scored nine of their 19 goals in the third period.
• Everblades have scored first in each of their four games.
• Game 2 is Saturday at 7 p.m. ET at Florida.

Other 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs Series
Central Division Finals
#1 Fort Wayne Komets vs. #2 Toledo Walleye
Series Matchup Sheet

Mountain Division Finals
#1 Kansas City Mavericks vs. #2 Allen Americans
Series Matchup Sheet

North Division Semifinals
#1 Wheeling Nailers vs. #4 Reading Royals
Wheeling wins series 4-1
Series Matchup Sheet

#2 Maine Mariners vs. #3 Adirondack Thunder
Maine leads series 3-2
Series Matchup Sheet

South Division Semifinals
#1 Florida Everblades vs. #4 Savannah Ghost Pirates
Florida wins series 4-0
Series Matchup Sheet

#2 South Carolina Stingrays vs. #3 Atlanta Gladiators
South Carolina wins series 4-2
Series Matchup Sheet

Central Division Semifinals
#1 Fort Wayne Komets vs. #4 Indy Fuel
Fort Wayne wins series 4-1
Series Matchup Sheet

#2 Toledo Walleye vs. #3 Bloomington Bison
Toledo wins series 4-2
Series Matchup Sheet

Mountain Division Semifinals
#1 Kansas City Mavericks vs. #4 Tahoe Knight Monsters
Kansas City wins series 4-0
Series Matchup Sheet

#2 Allen Americans vs. #3 Idaho Steelheads
Allen wins series 4-1
Series Matchup Sheet

The Maine Mariners' 3-1 win over the Adirondack Thunder in Game 7 was a monumental moment, marking the first playoff series victory in franchise history. It was a classic, tense Game 7, with the Mariners pulling away late thanks to a goal from defenseman Nick Anderson—his first since January—and a huge performance from goaltender Luke Cavallin. For those who follow the team closely, this feels like more than just a single series win. It seems like a potential turning point for a franchise trying to cement its place in a competitive sports market. For long-time Mariners fans, where does this moment rank, and do you believe this is the start of a new, more competitive era for the club, or a wonderful but isolated moment of success?

Btw I've been using this live thread to keep tabs on the games https://www.reddit.com/live/1gvof9amespjn/

Let's go Stingrays!

Game 1
Series Matchup Sheet

• South Carolina’s Stanley Cooley is tied for the playoff lead in plus-minus at +8.
• Florida’s Carson Gicewicz is on a three-game goal streak (4g).
• Stingrays have scored nine of their 19 goals in the third period.
• Everblades have scored first in each of their four games.
• Game 2 is Saturday at 7 p.m. ET at Florida.

Game Center (Box score, stream/listen)