Both teams won their Regional Final at the Koeppel Community Sports Center on the campus of Trinity College. The EHL team beat the Providence Capitals in three games while the Premier team eliminated the Adirondack Jr. Thunder in three games. Both teams won their series in similar fashion, losing Game 1 and bouncing back by winning Games 2 and 3.

EHL

On Friday, the 87’s fell to the Caps by a score of 5-2. While New Jersey struck first and went into the intermission in a 2-2 tie, Providence scored three goals in the third period.

The following day, the 87’s got off to a tremendous start as Alexander Legkov and Ivan Kulagin both scored within the first five minutes of the game. J.D. Shoniker, Dan Cardozo and Artur Kharisov also found the back of the net while Florentin Fally Puskas pitched a 24-save shutout in a 5-0 Game 2 win.

In the deciding Game 3, Connor Santay opened the scoring with a wrist shot from the point for his second goal of the series. The Capitals responded with two goals to take a 2-1 lead, but Legkov responded with two goals of his own. He tied the game when Santay ripped a pass to the slot where Legkov tapped the puck by Caps goaltender Kaden Clegg, then scored again on a delayed penalty by storming down the right-wing side and firing a snap shot blocker side.

All five goals took place in the first period, as Fally Puskas held the fort by making 30 saves on 32 shots in a 3-2 win to clinch the series. This postseason marks the first time the 87’s EHL team have advanced to the Frozen Finals since winning the championship in 2022.

EHLP

In Game 1 for the Premier team, the 87’s found themselves in a back-and-forth affair against Adirondack. Chris Erasmus and Matt Duffy scored two goals each while Vincent Baldari scored a goal in the third period. The Thunder managed to tie the game in the final minute of regulation, and Adirondack forward Cole Davidson scored in double overtime to give his team a 6-5 win. Running at 92:51, Game 1 of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Final is now the longest game in EHLP history.

On Saturday, the Jr. Thunder took a 1-0 lead in the first period, but the 87’s would respond with three unanswered goals including two on the power play. Vincent Baldari tied the game in the second period by slamming home a one-timer on a two-on-one rush. Anthony O’Brien gave the 87’s the lead in the third period by deflecting a point shot from Aliaksei Liseyenka, and Ryan Burtnick sealed a 3-1 win with an empty-net goal.

In the winner-take-all Game 3, both teams struck in the first period including a goal from Beknur Akmakhan. However, the 87’s would pull away with three goals in the second period as Sultan Kulumbek, O’Brien and Erasmus found the back of the net. Alexandr Kolesnikov added a goal in the final minute of regulation to close out a 5-1 win, sending the 87’s EHLP team to its third Frozen Final in five seasons.

On to Providence

Starting Thursday, the 87’s will begin the championship round at Schneider Arena on the campus of Providence College. The EHL team will face the New Hampshire Avalanche while the Premier team will take on the New England Wolves.

This will be the second time the 87’s will face the Avalanche in the Frozen Finals; the two teams played a round robin game at Ice Works Skating Complex in 2021. The EHLP Frozen Finals will be a rematch of last year’s consolation game.

All games will be streamed on Flo Hockey, here’s a schedule for both Frozen Finals matchups.

Schedule:

Thursday April 10

EHLP: New England Wolves vs. New Jersey 87’s Game 1 – 4:00 p.m.

EHL: New Hampshire Avalanche vs. New Jersey 87’s Game 1 – 7:30 p.m.

Friday April 11

EHLP: New England Wolves vs. New Jersey 87’s Game 2 – 4:00 p.m.

EHL: New Hampshire Avalanche vs. New Jersey 87’s Game 2 – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday April 12

EHLP: New England Wolves vs. New Jersey 87’s Game 3* – 11:00 a.m.

EHL: New Hampshire Avalanche vs. New Jersey 87’s Game 3* – 3:00 p.m.

*if necessary