2018 Kelly Cup playoffs explained
| Kelly Cup playoffs |
| Year: | 2018 |
| Dates: | April 12–June 9, 2018 |
| Num Teams: | 16 |
| Winners: | Colorado Eagles |
| Second: | Florida Everblades |
| Stat Leader Title: | Scoring leader(s) |
| Stat Leader Player: | Michael Joly (Colorado) |
| Stat Leader Value: | 29 points |
| Prev Season: | 2017 |
| Next Season: | 2019 |
The 2018 Kelly Cup playoffs of the ECHL began in April 2018 following the conclusion of the 2017–18 ECHL regular season. The Kelly Cup was won by the Colorado Eagles, in their last season in the ECHL before joining the American Hockey League, in seven games over the regular season champions, the Florida Everblades.
Playoff format
At the end of the regular season the top four teams in each division qualifies for the 2018 Kelly Cup playoffs and be seeded one through four based on highest point total earned in the season. Then the first two rounds of the playoffs are held within the division with the first seed facing the fourth seed and the second seed facing the third. The division champions then play each other in a conference championship. The Kelly Cup finals pits the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion. All four rounds are a best-of-seven format.[1]
Playoff seeds
After the regular season, 16 teams qualify for the playoffs. The Florida Everblades were the first team to qualify during the regular season on February 28.[2] The Everblades were the Eastern Conference regular season champions and clinched the Brabham Cup with the best record in the ECHL on April 5. The Toledo Walleye earned the top seed in the Western Conference.
Final seeds[3]
Eastern Conference
North Division
- Adirondack Thunder – Division champions, 89 pts
- Manchester Monarchs – 88 pts
- Reading Royals – 87 pts
- Worcester Railers – 82 pts
South Division
- Florida Everblades – Brabham Cup winners, division champions, 112 pts
- South Carolina Stingrays – 104 pts
- Orlando Solar Bears – 75 pts
- Atlanta Gladiators – 69 pts
Western Conference
Central Division
- Toledo Walleye – Division champions, 105 pts
- Fort Wayne Komets – 98 pts
- Cincinnati Cyclones – 81 pts
- Indy Fuel – 78 pts
Mountain Division
- Colorado Eagles – Division champions, 102 pts
- Idaho Steelheads – 96 pts
- Allen Americans – 78 pts
- Wichita Thunder – 76 pts
Playoff bracket
Division semifinals
North Division
(2) Manchester Monarchs vs. (3) Reading Royals
South Division
(2) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (3) Orlando Solar Bears
Central Division
(2) Fort Wayne Komets vs. (3) Cincinnati Cyclones
Mountain Division
(2) Idaho Steelheads vs. (3) Allen Americans
Division finals
North Division
(N1) Adirondack Thunder vs. (N2) Manchester Monarchs
South Division
(S1) Florida Everblades vs. (S3) Orlando Solar Bears
Central Division
(C1) Toledo Walleye vs. (C2) Fort Wayne Komets
Mountain Division
(M1) Colorado Eagles vs. (M2) Idaho Steelheads
Conference finals
Eastern Conference
(S1) Florida Everblades vs. (N1) Adirondack Thunder
Western Conference
(M1) Colorado Eagles vs. (C2) Fort Wayne Komets
Kelly Cup finals
(S1) Florida Everblades vs. (M1) Colorado Eagles
Statistical leaders
Skaters
These are the top ten skaters based on points.[4]
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/– | PIM |
|---|
| | 24 | 13 | 16 | 29 | +11 | 16 |
| | 18 | 11 | 11 | 22 | +5 | 12 |
| | 20 | 9 | 13 | 22 | +4 | 39 |
| | 21 | 10 | 10 | 20 | +3 | 62 |
| | 18 | 9 | 11 | 20 | +13 | 12 |
| | 24 | 3 | 17 | 20 | +4 | 16 |
| | 22 | 10 | 8 | 18 | +0 | 6 |
| | 17 | 9 | 8 | 17 | +9 | 24 |
| | 17 | 4 | 13 | 17 | +0 | 16 |
| | 18 | 7 | 9 | 16 | +5 | 16 | |
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutesGoaltending
This is a combined table of the top five goaltenders based on goals against average and the top five goaltenders based on save percentage, with at least 240 minutes played. The table is sorted by GAA, and the criteria for inclusion are bolded.[5]
| Player | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
|---|
| | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 112 | 4 | 1.00 | 0.964 | 1 | 240 |
| | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 95 | 7 | 1.54 | 0.926 | 0 | 273 |
| | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 255 | 14 | 1.90 | 0.945 | 1 | 443 |
| | 10 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 290 | 19 | 2.00 | 0.934 | 0 | 571 |
| | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 200 | 11 | 2.02 | 0.945 | 0 | 328 |
| | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 360 | 25 | 2.35 | 0.931 | 1 | 639 | |
GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime Losses; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes)See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Annual ECHL Board of Governors Meeting Concludes . ECHL . June 20, 2017 . March 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170620213922/http://www.echl.com/annual-echl-board-governors-meeting-concludes-2017 . June 20, 2017 . dead .
- Web site: Everblades Clinch Playoff Berth with 6-2 Victory Over Icemen . . March 1, 2018 . March 21, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180322021147/http://www.floridaeverblades.com/2018/03/everblades-clinch-playoff-berth-6-2-victory-icemen/ . March 22, 2018 . dead .
- Web site: ECHL Standings - Division . March 21, 2018 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20170801085028/http://www.echl.com/team-stats?standingsType=division&context=overall&specialTeams=false&season=44&sortKey=points&league=1&league_code=echl . August 1, 2017 . dead .
- Web site: Skater Statistics . ECHL . April 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180422092501/https://www.echl.com/stats/player-stats . April 22, 2018 . dead .
- Web site: Goaltender Statistics . ECHL . April 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180425114553/https://www.echl.com/stats/player-stats/all-teams/46?playertype=goalie&qualified=qualified&rookie=no&sort=gaa&statstype=standard&page=1&league=1 . April 25, 2018 . dead .
