2010 Kelly Cup playoffs


The 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs of the ECHL began April 5, 2010. 15 teams qualified, eight from the American Conference and seven from the National Conference. In the American conference, the winners of each of the three divisions plus the five teams with the highest point totals from the teams remaining qualified. Due to the National Conference's membership being limited to only eight teams, the two division winners and the five teams with the highest point totals from the teams remaining qualified, with the division winner with the highest point total receiving a bye to the conference semifinals.
The conference quarterfinals will be a 2-3 format with the higher seed choosing if it wishes to host Games 1-2 or Games 3-5. Teams that are less than 350 miles apart may choose to play a 2-2-1 format.
The remaining rounds will be best-of-seven game series.
Due to a scheduling conflict with their home arena, the Alaska Aces were forced to play their home games in the National Conference quarterfinals against the Stockton Thunder at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in nearby Wasilla.

Playoff seeds

After the regular season, 15 teams qualified for the playoffs. The Idaho Steelheads were the National Conference regular season champions and the Brabham Cup winners with the best record at 103 points. The Charlotte Checkers earned the top seed in the American Conference after winning a tiebreaker with the Kalamazoo Wings and South Carolina Stingrays after each of the three teams finished the season with 94 points each.

American Conference

  1. Charlotte Checkers - South Division and American Conference regular season champions, 94 points
  2. Kalamazoo Wings - North Division champions, 94 points
  3. Elmira Jackals - East Division champions, 83 points
  4. South Carolina Stingrays - 94 points
  5. Cincinnati Cyclones - 91 points
  6. Florida Everblades - 85 points
  7. Reading Royals - 80 points
  8. Toledo Walleye - 77 points
  1. Idaho Steelheads - West Division and National Conference regular season champions; Brabham Cup winners, 103 points
  2. Bakersfield Condors - Pacific Division champions, 81 points
  3. Alaska Aces - 80 points
  4. Utah Grizzlies - 77 points
  5. Las Vegas Wranglers - 76 points
  6. Stockton Thunder - 76 points
  7. Victoria Salmon Kings - 74 points

    Playoff bracket

Conference Quarterfinals

American Conference

(1) Charlotte Checkers vs. (8) Toledo Walleye

(2) Kalamazoo Wings vs. (7) Reading Royals

(3) Elmira Jackals vs. (6) Florida Everblades

(4) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (5) Cincinnati Cyclones

National Conference

(2) Bakersfield Condors vs. (7) Victoria Salmon Kings

(3) Alaska Aces vs. (6) Stockton Thunder

(4) Utah Grizzlies vs. (5) Las Vegas Wranglers

Conference semifinals

American Conference

(1) Charlotte Checkers vs. (5) Cincinnati Cyclones

(6) Florida Everblades vs. (7) Reading Royals

National Conference

(1) Idaho Steelheads vs. (4) Utah Grizzlies

(2) Bakersfield Condors vs. (6) Stockton Thunder

Conference Finals

American Conference finals: (5) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (7) Reading Royals

National Conference finals: (1) Idaho Steelheads vs. (6) Stockton Thunder

Kelly Cup Finals

(1) Idaho Steelheads vs (5) Cincinnati Cyclones

Statistical leaders

Skaters

These are the top ten skaters based on points.
PlayerTeamGPGAPts+/–PIM
Milan GajicFlorida Everblades9791660
Ryan CruthersReading Royals96101694
James SixsmithUtah Grizzlies82101268
Olivier LabelleReading Royals97411714
Oren EizenmanStockton Thunder6291150
Ben GordonReading Royals9281064
Ryan KinasewichUtah Grizzlies863908
Marc CavosieReading Royals954914
Bryan MillerAlaska Aces4369-20
Matthew PistilliFlorida Everblades836912

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; Yellow shade = team still in playoffs

Goaltending

These are the top five goaltenders based on both goals against average and save percentage with at least one game played.
PlayerTeamGPWLSAGAGAASV%SOTOI
Richard BachmanIdaho Steelheads3308762.00.9310180
Jeremy SmithCincinnati Cyclones743458172.23.9191458
Riley GillKalamazoo Wings41213582.26.9410212
Todd FordSouth Carolina Stingrays523134132.30.9030339
Timo PielmeierBakersfield Condors3129782.55.9180189

GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts; TOI = Time on ice ; Yellow shade = team still in playoffs