The Mountain Division was the tightest in the league this season, with the top and bottom spots separated by just 24 points in the standings. The top six teams were within 16 points of each other.

Only four teams could make it, however, with Utah ultimately holding on to that top spot and winning the division title.

No. 1 Utah Grizzlies Vs. No. 4 Tulsa Oilers

Game 1 – Friday, April 22 at 7:10 p.m. MT at Utah
Game 2 – Saturday, April 23 at 7:10 p.m. MT at Utah
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 26 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Tulsa
Game 4 – Wednesday, April 27 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Tulsa
Game 5 – Thursday, April 28 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Tulsa (If Necessary)
Game 6 – Monday, May 2 at 7:10 p.m. MT at Utah (If Necessary)
Game 7 – Wednesday, May 4 at 7:10 p.m. MT at Utah (If Necessary) 

Unlike the other three divisions, no team or group of teams ever really distanced themselves from the rest of the pack, which could create some very competitive playoff series in the opening round.

That might not be more clear than Utah’s 1 vs. 4 series with Tulsa, who played them evenly with four wins in the eight matchups they had during the regular season. The Grizzlies had just a plus-15 goal differential this year, easily the lowest among any of the division winners, and could be in for a tough test with the Oilers. Tulsa rallied late to secure the Mountain’s final playoff berth, accumulating 13 points over their last ten games.

Season Series:

4-4, even split

Players To Watch: 

Trent Miner, Utah Grizzlies
Daniel Mannella, Tulsa Oilers

Miner led the league with seven shutouts this season in just 28 games. The 2019 seventh-round draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche will likely be the number one netminder for the playoffs over Peyton Jones, who split games nearly evenly with Miner during the regular season.

But Miner largely outperformed the Penn State alum, with a 2.72 goals against average and .910 save percentage, both better than Jones’ numbers.

While the matchup will come down to more than just the goalies, it’ll be interesting to see how Mannella, who was the league’s most used netminder this year with 51 games played, will hold up given his workload. The 26-year-old St. Lawrence University alum has appeared in a whopping 54 regular season contests in 2021-22, also earning a three-game stint with the American Hockey League’s Chicago Wolves, he shined with a 2-0 record, 1.19 GAA and .955 save percentage.

No. 2 Rapid City Rush Vs. No. 3 Allen Americans

Game 1 – Friday, April 22 at 7:05 p.m. MT at Rapid City
Game 2 – Saturday, April 23 at 7:05 p.m. MT at Rapid City
Game 3 – Tuesday, April 26 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Allen
Game 4 – Friday, April 29 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Allen
Game 5 – Saturday, April 30 at 7:05 p.m. CT at Allen (If Necessary)
Game 6 – Monday, May 2 at 7:05 p.m. MT at Rapid City (If Necessary)
Game 7 – Wednesday, May 4 at 7:05 p.m. MT at Rapid City (If Necessary) 

Of the eight first-round playoff series around the league, this is the most evenly-matched on paper. Rapid City and Allen were separated by just one win in the regular season.

But there are other reasons that may make this one of the most intriguing games to watch this opening round. 

Somehow, the Rush and Americans have played only five times this season, the fewest of any of the first-round matchups. Additionally, they’ve played only once this calendar year, a 3-2 Rapid City victory in Allen on January 26. Plenty has changed in the nearly three months since then, which makes this series particularly difficult to forecast. 

Season Series: 

3-2, in favor of Rapid City

Players To Watch: 

Brett Gravelle, Rapid City Rush
Chad Costello, Allen Americans

Gravelle potted two goals in Rapid City’s season finale to end up with 27 on the season, capping off a stunning year in which he emerged from the A-level SPHL…which came one year after he spent his first professional year entirely in the FPHL with the Elmira Enforcers.

The Rush’s second leading scorer, if the 26-year-old Gravelle stays hot, it could play a pivotal role in Rapid City advancing to the next round.

As for Allen, Steve Martinson teams are not to be messed with in the playoffs. He’s the winner of a stunning ten minor league titles, including two with Allen in their first two seasons in the ECHL, and is set to attempt another deep run with the Americans. 

Martinson has missed the playoffs just twice in his time as a head coach. He provides a significant X-factor to the series, as does Costello, who scored 64 points in 49 Kelly Cup Playoff games during those aforementioned title runs in 2015 and 2016.