For the first time since 2021, both 87’s teams have made it out of the South Division, and both teams are two wins away from reaching the championship round in Providence, RI.

EHL team knocks down Philadelphia Hockey Club in three games

Following the 87’s first-round win over the Pennsylvania Huntsmen, the EHL team went on to face Philadelphia Hockey Club in the South Division Final.

Game 1 took place on Tuesday at Jersey Shore Arena and Philadelphia took an early 1-0 lead, but the 87’s struck back later in the first period as defenseman Troy Mulholland slipped a cross-ice pass to J.D. Shoniker, who buried a one-timer at the far post for his first goal of the postseason.

The 87’s wouldn’t look back from that point, as Tyler Branish scored the go-ahead goal in the second period by firing a wrist shot from the right faceoff dot while Shoniker added to the lead a few minutes later with his second goal of the game. New Jersey tacked on four more goals in the third period from Ivan Kulagin, Landon Adams, Alexander Legkov and Aidan Lasky, resulting in a 7-1 final score.

The series went back to Holydell Ice Arena on Thursday for Game 2, and Philadelphia scored three goals in the second period while adding one more in the third period for a 4-2 win, forcing a deciding Game 3 on Friday.

New Jersey jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the first period as Connor McLachlan, who made his playoff debut that day, scored on a sharp-angle shot from the goal line. Legkov doubled the lead late in the first as Shoniker threw a puck towards the doorstep and Legkov put away the rebound. The score held until the third period; as Philadelphia pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker, Alex Haar scored on the empty net to make it a 3-0 game. Florentin Fally Puskas made 25 saves to earn the shutout in the series-deciding game.

It was the first time the 87’s have won a Game 3 in a best-of-three series. As they head to the Regional Finals at Trinity College, the 87’s will take on the Providence Capitals, who won the Central Division Final against HC Rhode Island.

Premier team sweeps Huntsmen

Following its two-game sweep over the Philadelphia Little Flyers, the 87’s Premier team went on to face the Pennsylvania Huntsmen in the South Division Final. Game 1 took place on Saturday night at Jersey Shore Arena, and neither side scored in the first period. Alexandr Kolesnikov finally broke through in the second by ringing a shot off the post and in for his second goal of the postseason.

The Huntsmen tied things up late in the second period, but the 87’s came out flying in the third period as Sean Elbrecht scored the go-ahead goal just 29 seconds into the period. Midway through the third, Vincent Baldari and Chris Erasmus scored 65 seconds apart to put the game out of reach, en route to a 4-1 victory.

Game 2 took place at Power Play Rinks on Sunday, and once again, neither side scored in the first period. New Jersey took control of the game late in the second as Erasmus scored on a wrap-around, then Kolesnikov doubled the lead with a dazzling coast-to-coast goal.

Pennsylvania got on the board in the third period, but the 87’s responded with three goals, coming from Michael Green, Erasmus and Thomas Pearsall as the team closed out the series with a 5-1 win.

Look Ahead to Regionals

Both 87’s teams will be playing this weekend at Trinity College at the Koeppel Community Sports Center in Hartford, CT. The Regional Final is a best-of-three series, where the winner will advance to the championship round at Schneider Arena on the campus of Providence College.

The EHL team will take on the Providence Capitals while the Premier team will play against the Adirondack Jr. Thunder. Here is the schedule for both matchups:

Friday, April 4

EHLP -- Adirondack Jr. Thunder at New Jersey 87's (Game #1) at 4:00 pm

EHL -- New Jersey 87's at Providence Capitals (Game #1) at 7:00 pm

Saturday, April 5

EHLP -- New Jersey 87's at Adirondack Jr. Thunder (Game #2) at 4:00 pm

EHL -- Providence Capitals at New Jersey 87's (Game #2) at 7:00 pm

Sunday, April 6

EHLP -- Adirondack Jr. Thunder at New Jersey 87's (Game #3 - If Necessary) at 11:00 am

EHL -- New Jersey 87's at Providence Capitals (Game #3 - If Necessary) at 2:00 pm

Photo Credit: Pauls Pics NJ (X: @paulspicsnj)