2023 Kelly Cup playoffs

The 2023 Kelly Cup playoffs of the ECHL hockey league began on April 19, 2023, following the conclusion of the 2022–23 ECHL regular season.
==Playoff format==
Since all 28 teams were able to complete all 72 games this season, the league went back to the points system, where it didn't matter anymore about the point percentage that was used the year prior since all 28 teams played all 72 games. The top 4 teams in each division qualified for the playoffs based on highest point total earned in the season. Then the first two rounds of the playoffs are held within the division with the first seed facing the fourth seed and the second seed facing the third. The division champions then play each other in a conference championship. The Kelly Cup finals pits the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion. All four rounds are a best-of-seven format. The Idaho Steelheads secured the top record, winning the Brabham Cup, and therefore scheduled to have home ice advantage for all the rounds they advance in.
11 out of the 16 teams in this year's playoffs were participants in the previous Kelly Cup Playoffs.
==Playoff seeds==
After the regular season, 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The Toledo Walleye were the first to clinch a playoff spot for the second year in a row, while the Adirondack Thunder were the last, completing the impossible comeback to overtake the Worcester Railers for the final spot in the North Division. 
Final seeds and points:
=== Eastern Conference ===
====North Division====
*Newfoundland Growlers – Division champions, 98 pts
*Reading Royals – 88 pts
*Maine Mariners – 87 pts
*Adirondack Thunder – 75 pts
====South Division====
*South Carolina Stingrays – Division champions, 95 pts
*Jacksonville Icemen – 93 pts
*Greenville Swamp Rabbits – 89 pts
*Florida Everblades – 85 pts
===Western Conference===
====Central Division====
*Cincinnati Cyclones – Division champions, 103 pts
*Toledo Walleye – 98 pts 
*Indy Fuel – 91 pts
*Fort Wayne Komets – 75 pts
====Mountain Division====
*Idaho Steelheads – Brabham Cup winners, Division champions, 119 pts
*Allen Americans – 77 pts
*Kansas City Mavericks – 76 pts
*Utah Grizzlies – 74 pts
==Playoff bracket==
== Division semifinals ==
=== North Division ===
==== (1) Newfoundland Growlers vs. (4) Adirondack Thunder ====
==== (2) Reading Royals vs. (3) Maine Mariners ====
=== South Division ===
==== (1) South Carolina Stingrays vs. (4) Florida Everblades ====
==== (2) Jacksonville Icemen vs. (3) Greenville Swamp Rabbits ====
=== Central Division ===
==== (1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (4) Fort Wayne Komets ====
==== (2) Toledo Walleye vs. (3) Indy Fuel ====
=== Mountain Division ===
==== (1) Idaho Steelheads vs. (4) Utah Grizzlies ====
==== (2) Allen Americans vs. (3) Kansas City Mavericks ====
==Division finals==
===North Division===
==== (1) Newfoundland Growlers vs. (2) Reading Royals ====
===South Division===
====(2) Jacksonville Icemen vs. (4) Florida Everblades====
===Central Division===
====(1) Cincinnati Cyclones vs. (2) Toledo Walleye====
=== Mountain Division ===
====(1) Idaho Steelheads vs. (2) Allen Americans====
==Conference finals==
===Eastern Conference===
==== (N1) Newfoundland Growlers vs. (S4) Florida Everblades ====
===Western Conference===
==== (M1) Idaho Steelheads vs. (C2) Toledo Walleye ====
==Kelly Cup finals==
=== (M1) Idaho Steelheads vs. (S4) Florida Everblades ===
==Statistical leaders==
===Skaters===
These are the top ten skaters based on points. As of June 4, 2023. Players in bold are currently active in the playoffs. 
Player 	Team 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	+/–	PIM
Wade Murphy 	Idaho Steelheads 	18	12	8 	20 	+5 	24
Gordie Green 	Toledo Walleye 	13	9 	9 	18 	+2 	6
Owen Headrick 	Idaho Steelheads 	18	3 	15	18 	+8 	8
Ty Pelton-Byce 	Idaho Steelheads 	18	9 	8 	17 	+8 	4
Brandon Hawkins	Toledo Walleye 	13	8 	9 	17 	+4 	10
Pavel Gogolev 	Newfoundland Growlers	16	8 	9 	17 	+2 	12
Sean Josling 	Florida Everblades 	20	8 	9 	17 	+6 	14
Oliver Chau 	Florida Everblades 	17	7 	10	17 	+7 	0
John McCarron 	Florida Everblades 	20	6 	11	17 	+5 	28
Ryan Dmowski 	Idaho Steelheads 	17	9 	7 	16 	+2 	10
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
===Goaltending===
This is a combined of the top five goaltenders based on goals against average and the top five goaltenders based on save percentage, with at least 400 minutes played. The table is sorted by GAA, and the criteria for inclusion are bolded. Players in bold are currently active in the playoffs. As of June 4, 2023.
Player 	Team 	GP	W 	L	OTL	SA 	GA	GAA 	SV% 	SO	TOI
Cam Johnson 	Florida Everblades 	20	14	4	2 	582	47	2.16	0.919	3 	1307
Adam Scheel 	Idaho Steelheads 	18	12	5	1 	541	47	2.60	0.913	3 	1086
Dryden McKay 	Newfoundland Growlers	12	8 	2	1 	313	31	2.72	0.901	2 	683
Beck Warm 	Cincinnati Cyclones 	10	4 	5	0 	323	28	3.12	0.913	1 	539
Kevin Mandolese	Allen Americans 	9 	4 	5	0 	304	26	3.13	0.914	1 	498
GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime Losses; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes)
==References==
Category:Kelly Cup playoffs
Category:2022–23 ECHL season