For the second time in three seasons, the Seattle Kraken’s ECHL affiliate is headed to the Kelly Cup Finals – although the Kansas City Mavericks almost started celebrating too soon.
K.C.’s Jakov Novak scored 1:04 into overtime, his second goal of the game, to give the Mavs a 4-3 home victory over the Fort Wayne Comets. Kansas City took the Western Conference Finals 4 games to 2, setting up a rematch of the 2024 ECHL championship against the Florida Everblades. Florida defeated Kansas City in five games two years ago.
Kraken Affiliate Almost Celebrated Prematurely
The Mavericks led Game 6 against the Comets 3-0 as the clock wound down toward 12 minutes to play. Fort Wayne rallied for three goals of its own, including William Dufour tying the game with six seconds left.
However, it proved just a speed bump on K.C.’s return trip to the Finals. In OT, just after Fort Wayne’s Reece Harsch hit the post, Novak converted his own rebound on a 2-on-1 to send 5,234 at Cable Dahmer Arena into a frenzy.
2025-26 will remembered as a banner postseason for Seattle’s farm clubs. The Coachella Valley Firebirds, despite the 32-team AHL’s youngest roster, won two playoff rounds this spring. Meanwhile, Kansas City improved to 12-2 over three playoff rounds. Earlier, the Mavericks polished off 4-game sweeps of the Tahoe Knight Monsters and Allen Americans. Over those eight games, the Mavs outscored their opposition 32-13.
Kelly Cup Finals Schedule
- Game 1: Fri., June 5 – Florida @ Kansas City (5 pm PT)
- Game 2: Sat., June 6 – Florida @ Kansas City (4 pm PT)
- Game 3: Wed., June 10 – Kansas City @ Florida (4:30 pm PT)
- Game 4: Fri., June 12 – Kansas City @ Florida (4:30 pm PT)
- Game 5: Sat., June 13 – Kansas City @ Florida (4 pm PT) **
- Game 6: Mon., June 15 – Florida @ Kansas City (5 pm PT) **
- Game 7: Wed., June 17 – Florida @ Kansas City (5 pm PT) **
** If Necessary
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