Kalamazoo hosts Blades in conference finals
The Florida Everblades will face the Kalamazoo Wings in the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2012 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs starting tonight in Kalamazoo.
The Wings entered the playoffs as the third seed in the Eastern Conference and will have home-ice advantage in the best-of-seven finals. The Everblades clinched their semifinal series 4-1 over the Elmira Jackals.
Kalamazoo will host the first two games of the series this weekend on Friday and Saturday.
The series shifts to Germain Arena on May 2 and on May 3 and, if necessary, Game 5 on May 5. If Game 5 occurs, the Florida Tarpons football game against Lakeland, originally set for May 5, would be rescheduled for Sunday, May 6.
The Everblades return to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2007. The Wings clinch a spot in Conference Finals for the second consecutive season. Last season, Kalamazoo defeated Wheeling in six games, but lost to the Alaska Aces in the Kelly Cup Finals. The Everblades posted a 3-0-2 record against Kalamazoo during the regular season.
The schedule of the best-of-seven series:
Game 1 – in Kalamazoo, Fri. Apr. 27, 7:30 p.m.
Game 2 – in Kalamazoo, Sat. Apr. 28, 7:30 p.m.
Game 3 – at Florida, Wed. May 2, 7:30 p.m.
Game 4 – at Florida, Thurs. May 3, 7:30 p.m.
Game 5 – at Florida, Sat. May 5, 7:00 p.m. (if necessary)
Game 6 – in Kalamazoo, Tues. May 8, 7:00 p.m. (if necessary)
Game 7 – in Kalamazoo, Wed. May 9, 7:00 p.m.(if necessary)