For the first time since 2021, the Kelly Cup Finals will not include the Florida Everblades. The Everblades would fall in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, ending their season. In the first period, it would be the Everblades who had the slight advantage out of the gate. The Trois-Rivieres Lions would finally break through as Justin Ducharme found the back of the net at the 15:34 mark of the period. Shots were hard to come by in the opening period, but it would be the Lions who held the 7-6 advantage.
The Florida Everblades would come out hot in the second as they got a lot of good looks, but Luke Cavallin would keep the Blades off the board. Trois-Rivieres would be held to only five shots in the second but made the most out of their opportunities. Kyle Havlena fed Justin Ducharme, who beat Cam Johnson for his fourth of the Kelly Cup Playoffs and second of the game. For the 25-year-old forward, three of his four Kelly Cup Playoff goals this season have come at Hertz Arena. 18 seconds later, Alex Beaucage scored his team-leading ninth goal of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Lions, despite being outshot 11-5 in the middle frame, would head to the locker room with a 3-0 lead.
The Florida Everblades needed something to go their way, and it would, as they got their first power play of the game at the 2:13 mark of the third period. However, the Lions would pounce as Tyler Hylland snuck a puck past Johnson to give the Lions a 4-0 lead. For Trois-Rivieres, that was their third short-handed goal of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Hylland would add an empty-net goal at 15:29 for his second of the period and the night. Tommy Cormier added his first career Kelly Cup Playoff goal as well before the final whistle sounded. Luke Cavallin stopped all 25 shots he saw for his third shutout of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Cavallin is now tied for second in shutouts during the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Kansas City Mavericks goaltender Jack LaFontaine leads the league with four.
The Lions will face the Toledo Walleye in the Kelly Cup Final beginning Saturday Night in Toledo. It will be the first Kelly Cup appearance for the Lions. This comes 13 months after the Lions were almost forced to fold along with the Newfoundland Growlers.
ITR 46: Offseason Chaos – Inside The Rink
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