KELLY CUP FINALS: Blades see similarities with Wranglers - Naples Daily News

Game 1: Monday, May 14, at Las Vegas, 10:05 p.m.

Game 2: Tuesday, May 15 at Las Vegas, 10:05 p.m.

Game 3: Friday, May 18, at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

Game 4: Tuesday, May 22, at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

*Game 5: Wednesday, May 23, at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

*Game 6: Friday, May 25, at Las Vegas, 10:05 p.m.

*Game 7: Saturday, May 26, at Las Vegas, 10:05 p.m.

* â€" If necessary

All times Eastern

ESTERO â€" While the Florida Everblades players were given Monday off to rest and take one more day to bask in their Eastern Conference Championship, the rest of the organization was abuzz.

Coach Greg Poss studied video of the Everblades’ Kelly Cup Finals opponent, the Las Vegas Wranglers, while the team’s front office worked on travel arrangements.

The Everblades and Wranglers don’t start the best-of-seven Kelly Cup Finals until Monday, May 14, which will be nine days from Florida’s series-clinching victory over Kalamazoo on Saturday.

Las Vegas wrapped up the Western Conference Championship even earlier, eliminating defending champion Alaska on May 2.

Poss said that his initial take on the Wranglers’ style of play is that it looks very similar to the Everblades’ â€" meaning fans who like offense could be in for a treat.

“They’re a lot like us,” Poss said. “They’re fast, they’ve got really good puck-moving transitions, so for the fans it’s going to be a really good series.”

As players left the locker room following Saturday’s win over Kalamazoo, they talked about the excitement of getting a chance to play for a championship. But many also spoke with relative hesitation.

“For sure it’s something really nice for us,” defenseman Sebastien Piche said. “Right now I think we’re really happy, but we still have a lot more to do.”

None of the players on Florida’s current roster were around when the team last reached the Finals in 2005. But the longest-tenured Everblades player, forward and captain Mathieu Roy, said the berth is a long time coming.

“It’s unbelievable the feeling I have to get a chance to go to the Finals,” said Roy, who is in his fourth season with the team. “But it’s not going to mean anything if we don’t finish it off.”

In order to do that, Florida will have to do something it’s done in each of the three previous rounds in the playoffs â€" win on its opponent’s home ice. In the playoffs, Florida is 3-2 on the road and a remarkable 8-0 at home.

By clinching on Saturday, Florida was able to take two days off, and will still get a full practice schedule in before leaving for Las Vegas.

“We’ve got a good week in front of us,” Roy said. “We’ve got to be smart with what we’re doing this week and make sure we’re ready for them on Monday.”

Florida’s plan is to practice Tuesday-Friday before traveling to Las Vegas on Saturday. Depending on how travel goes, the team will likely hold a skate on Sunday before playing Monday’s Game 1.