Format announced for 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs

ESTERO, Fla. – The ECHL announced on Thursday the format for the 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The top four teams in both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference, based on points percentage at the conclusion of the regular season, will earn postseason berths. All three rounds in the 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs will be best-of-five series, with the higher-seeded team having the option of playing the first two or the final three games at home, unless a mutual alternative series format is determined.

The Conference Semifinals in both conferences will see the first-place team meet the fourth-place finisher and the second-place team taking on the third-place team. The two winners in each Conference will meet in the Conference Finals, with those winners advancing to the 2021 Kelly Cup Finals. 

The 2020-21 ECHL regular season is scheduled to end on Saturday, June 5, with the 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs beginning on Monday, June 7. The Kelly Cup Finals are scheduled to end no later than Saturday, July 3.

The Florida Everblades last appearance in the Kelly Cup was in in 2018, where the Blades lost to the Colorado Eagles four games to three. Florida’s only Kelly Cup win was in 2012 against the Las Vegas Wranglers.

The Everblades wrap up their 5-game homestand this weekend against the Orlando Solar Bears. On Friday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Hertz Arena, the game promotion features two Premium Level seats, two “Dam” Buckets by New Amsterdam Vodka and two Autographed Programs for just $39! Visit online at www.FloridaEverblades.com/239. Also, kids eat FREE with the purchase of an adult entrée at the newly renovated Breakaway Sports Pub, located inside Hertz Arena! For tickets to the game on Feb. 5, click HERE. 

Florida and Orlando will tangle again on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 7:00 p.m. at Hertz Arena. Stop by our Saturday Tailgate presented by Joia Spirit with Live Music performed by James Prather outside Hertz Arena from 5:00-7:00 p.m.! For tickets to the game on Feb. 6, clickHERE.

About the ECHL

Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 26 teams in 19 states and two Canadian provinces for its 33rd season in 2020-21. There have been 685 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including seven who have made their NHL debuts in the 2020-21 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 25 of the 31 NHL teams in 2020-21, marking the 24th consecutive season that the league had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com as well as on Twitter and Facebook.

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JOIN THE FUN Become a member of the Florida Everblades family by securing a great seat location and big savings with a Blades 365 Membership! Purchase a new Ticket Package or Flexible Voucher Package for the Blades 2020-21 season and receive a $20 gift card to Ford’s Garage along with an Everblades tote bag! To view the Blades 365 Membership savings, benefits and options click HERE.Discounted Group Packages are also available for Groups of 10 or more! To reserve your group for an upcoming home game, call or text the Everblades Front Office at (239) 948-7825.Make it a Suite Night with the Blades! There is one Luxury Suite and one Party Suite available at a limited number of Everblades home games this season. For the latest availability on Suites, call or text (239) 948-7825.Everblades put the FUN in FUNdraising! There is no handling of money or tickets and no limit to the amount of money your group can make with the Blades easy-to-run online Fundraiser! For more information, or to reserve a Fundraiser Night at an Everblades regular season home game, call or text (239) 948-7825. JOIN THE BROADCASTSWatch every Florida Everblades game on the new home for ECHL hockey at FloHockey.TV. Listen to the exciting game action on the Everblades Broadcast Network at WJBX News, Talk & More on 104.3 FM, 101.5 FM and AM 770, plus online at wjbxnewstalk.com. In addition, some Blades Broadcasts can be heard on 99.3 ESPN or online at www.993espn.com. JOIN THE CONVERSATIONStay up to date by following the Florida Everblades on Social Media with all the latest news, scores and promotions on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Tiktok, and Twitter. 

The Florida Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Nashville Predators and the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals.###