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SERIES PREVIEW: Toledo vs. Newfoundland in the Kelly Cup Finals

Friday, May 24th
SERIES PREVIEW: Toledo vs. Newfoundland in the Kelly Cup Finals

The Toledo Walleye have advanced to the Kelly Cup Finals for the first time in team history and will take on the Newfoundland Growlers in a 2-3-2 series format. Toledo and Newfoundland did not play during the regular season.

Click HERE for all ticket info and more details on the Walleye postseason run.

WINNER TAKES ALL | Kelly Cup Finals

Best-of-Seven Series (All times listed are EST)

  • Game 1: Saturday, May 25 @ 5:30 p.m. at Newfoundland - WATCH PARTY!
  • Game 2: Sunday, May 26 @ 5:30 p.m. at Newfoundland - WATCH PARTY!
  • Game 3: Wednesday, May 29 @ 7:35 p.m. at Toledo - BUY TICKETS!
  • Game 4: Friday, May 31 @ 7:35 p.m. at Toledo - BUY TICKETS!
  • Game 5: Saturday, June 1 @ 7:35 p.m. at Toledo - BUY TICKETS!
  • Game 6: Tuesday, June 4 @ 5:30 p.m. at Newfoundland - WATCH PARTY!
  • Game 7: Wednesday, June 5 @ 5:30 p.m. at Newfoundland - WATCH PARTY!

KELLY CUP FINALS BREAKDOWN | TOLEDO VS. NEWFOUNDLAND

TOLEDO WALLEYE: 40-23-6-3 (Second place in ECHL Central Division

  • Leading Scorer: Shane Berschbach (20 goals, 43 assists, 63 points)
  • Leading Goaltender: Pat Nagle (22 wins, 2.81 GAA, .910 Save %)
  • Playoffs Leading Scorer: Dylan Sadowy (8 goals, 8 assists, 16 points)
  • Playoffs Leading Goaltender: Pat Nagle (12 wins, 1.79 GAA, .940 Save %)
  • Playoffs Power Play: 26.4% (2nd in ECHL)
  • Playoffs Penalty Kill: 81.9% (8th in ECHL)

NEWFOUNDLAND GROWLERS: 43-21-4-4 (First place in ECHL North Division)

  • Leading Scorer: Zach O’Brien (28 goals, 40 assists, 68 points)
  • Leading Goaltender: Michael Garteig (23 wins, 2.72 GAA, .909 Save %)
  • Playoffs Leading Scorer: Zach O’Brien (14 goals, 10 assists, 24 points)
  • Playoffs Leading Goaltender: Michael Garteig (12 wins, 2.07 GAA, .934 Save %)
  • Playoffs Power Play: 24.3% (4th in ECHL)
  • Playoffs Penalty Kill: 83.0% (5th in ECHL)

WALLEYE NOTES

Third Time is a Charm: Toledo’s third visit to the conference finals in the last five years was a charm for the Walleye as they bested the Tulsa Oilers 6-2 in Game 7 on Wednesday night. The Walleye had dropped their previous two visits to the conference round (2015 to South Carolina and 2017 to Colorado). It is the first time a Toledo team has appeared in the ECHL final series since 1994 when the then Toledo Storm won the Riley Cup (their second straight ECHL Championship).

Fill Those Stands: Toledo posted its third sellout crowd in this series with 7,542 in the house on Monday for Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals. That gives the Walleye seven sellouts in this postseason run out of the nine home games they have played. Toledo is averaging 7,113 per game in the playoffs, which leads the ECHL.

Goaltending Rules: Pat Nagle has been downright brilliant in the postseason with a 12-4-2 record, a 1.79 goals against average and .940 save percentage. Nagle leads all goaltenders in goals against average and is making his second trip to Kelly Cup Finals (2012 with Florida).

Backline Offense: Toledo boats three of the top four scoring defensemen in this playoff year as Matt Register (4G, 8A), Kevin Tansey (2G, 10A) and Trevor Hamilton (5G, 5A) are in the top three. Only Eric Drapluck of Tulsa (13 points) has more than the Walleye trio. Kevin Tansey leads every player in the postseason with a plus 16 rating.

Toledo’s Top Dog: Heading into the final series, Toledo is led in scoring by Dylan Sadowy and his 16 points (8G, 8A) while Greg Wolfe is currently second with 15 points (7G, 8A). Sadowy paces the team with 8 goals while Kevin Tansey owns a Walleye best 10 assists.

Finishing Out a Game: Toledo has continued what it was able to do in the regular season (29-0-3) by posting an 11-0 record this playoff when leading after two periods.

Growlers Roaring This Postseason: After dispatching both Brampton and Manchester in six games, Newfoundland found its best to be the Eastern Conference Finals when the dominated Florida four games to one. Goaltender Michael Gartieg posted three shutouts against Florida which is fourth most in a single ECHL Playoff Season. The Growlers are a perfect 8-0 this postseason when they have scored first and they are 8-1 when leading after the second period. Forward Zach O’Brien leads Newfoundland in scoring with 14 goals and 10 assists.

Upcoming Home Games

Full Schedule
Preseason Game
Saturday, October 12th
Preseason Game
Puck Drops:
7:15 PM EDT
Huntington Center
Kalamazoo Wings
KAL Kalamazoo Wings
at
Toledo Walleye
TOL Toledo Walleye
Huntington Center
Opening Weekend
Friday, November 1st
Opening Weekend
Puck Drops:
7:15 PM EDT
Huntington Center
Wheeling Nailers
WHL Wheeling Nailers
at
Toledo Walleye
TOL Toledo Walleye
Huntington Center
Opening Weekend
Saturday, November 2nd
Opening Weekend
Puck Drops:
7:15 PM EDT
Huntington Center
Cincinnati Cyclones
CIN Cincinnati Cyclones
at
Toledo Walleye
TOL Toledo Walleye
Huntington Center

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