Had someone told you at the start of the season this would be the ECHL's Eastern Conference Final, nobody would have batted an eye.  

It's a bit more surprising now, with Newfoundland having knocked out the conference's top seed, the Reading Royals, in the North Division Finals, winning Monday night's Game 7, 4-2. Newfoundland held Reading to just 16 shots on goal in the process. 

But, it's still two of the top three seeds in the East going head-to-head to see who's going to advance to the Kelly Cup Final, a battle between the team to hoist the trophy when all teams were playing against a perennial powerhouse, with a core group that has come close to winning it all over the past few years.

Curiously, it's the Growlers who have home ice for this series, despite finishing second in the North Division this year, while the Everblades won the South. That determination was made by overall points percentage, with Newfoundland (.664) having the edge over Florida (.653), achieved in a league-low 67 games played due to cancellations related to Canadian COVID restrictions earlier in the year.

Despite being in the same conference, the Growlers and Everblades didn't play each other at all during the regular season - Newfoundland didn't play any of the seven South Division teams this year - meaning there's little to go on from the recent past to see how this series will actually play out.

The Growlers have gone the distance in both of their first two playoff series, with Trois-Rivieres taking them to a seventh game in the opening round. 

Keith Petruzzelli has started all 14 postseason games for Newfoundland thus far, while backup Rylan Parenteau made two appearances in relief and has earned all eight wins, despite a sub-.900 save percentage that ranks among the lowest of all qualified goaltenders.  

Newfoundland has had little problem putting the puck in the net, however. They're averaging slightly over four goals per game this postseason, led once again by first-year pro centerman Tyler Boland, who is second among all forwards with 20 points thus far in the Kelly Cup Playoffs, including 12 goals. He is second only to Utah defenseman Charle-Edouard D'Astous. 

A ✨🧹 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘱 🧹✨ to remember your first-ever second round appearance by!

👋 @JaxIcemen pic.twitter.com/5NhfCnNRQD

— XY - Florida Everblades (@FL_Everblades) May 12, 2022

The road to get here has been far less circuitous for the 'Blades. 

After a six-game first-round series win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, they swept the Jacksonville Icemen, including three shutouts, to advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the third time in the last four completed seasons.

It was veteran netminder Cam Johnson who authored those clean slates for Florida, and he's surely the starter for the duration of the playoffs, after Parker Gahagen had the net with Johnson still in the American Hockey League at the time the postseason began.

Johnson's 1.38 goals against average and .942 save percentage led the league among goalies who've played in five or more games, and nobody's posted more than one shutout but him.

Florida has received a more measured, balanced attack when it comes to lighting the lamp. The team needed just nine goals to win the Jacksonville series in four games, getting those tallies from eight different players.

One of only four forwards to play all 10 postseason contests, Joe Pendenza, leads the team with 11 playoff points, while Matteo Gennaro paces the 'Blades with five goals.

Newfoundland Growlers vs. Florida Everblades

Game 1 - Friday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m. ET at Newfoundland
Game 2 - Sunday, May 22 at 5:30 p.m. ET at Newfoundland
Game 3 - Wednesday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida
Game 4 - Friday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Florida
Game 5 - Saturday, May 28 at 7 p.m. ET at Florida (If Necessary)
Game 6 - Tuesday, May 31 at 5:30 p.m. NT at Newfoundland (If Necessary)
Game 7 - Wednesday, June 1 at 5:30 p.m. NT at Newfoundland (If Necessary)