The final weekend of the 2024-25 ECHL regular season has some teams looking to finish on a positive note before beginning their summer vacations, while others still have something to play for.
Despite falling 6-5 in a shootout to the Wichita Thunder Wednesday night, the Tahoe Knight Monsters clinched their first-ever Kelly Cup Playoff berth in its inaugural season. The Thunder, however, are still looking to punch their post-season ticket.
The two clubs square off again Friday at the Tahoe Blue Event Center. Wichita (39-24-6-1, 85 points) moved alone into third place in the Mountain Division following Wednesday night’s win. Tahoe (41-23-4-2, 88 points) is in second.
The Thunder can clinch a playoff berth Friday with a win and an Idaho Steelheads loss. They can also clinch with an overtime or shootout loss and an Idaho loss in regulation.
The final scenario that would assure the Thunder of a playoff spot is a win and the Tulsa Oilers losing in regulation.
Wichita, Tulsa and Idaho are separated by just two points. The Oilers are on the road to face the Allen Americans, while Idaho is at home for a showdown with the Kansas City Mavericks.
The Thunder and Knight Monsters are meeting for the second time at Tahoe Blue Event Center. Wichita is 3-1-0 against the Knight Monsters this season.
Meanwhile, the Reading Royals and Worcester Railers are battling for a playoff spot, and the teams will meet Friday and Saturday at Santander Arena in Reading.
Reading (31-28-9-2, 73 points) needs to win both games against the Railers (34-29-3-4, 75 points) to qualify for the post-season. Wins in regulation and post-regulation will suffice, as the Royals hold the tiebreaker (regulation wins) over Worcester.
If both teams should tie in points following the regular season, the Royals would clinch the fourth spot in the North Division standings.
The Royals have split their last eight games at home and have registered a point in 16 of their last 22 games overall (13-6-2-1).
Worcester comes into Friday’s matchup having taken five out of a possible six points (2-0-1) against the Adirondack Thunder. The Railers have picked up a point in four of their last six contests (3-2-1) and six of their last eight (5-2-1).
