READING, PA – The Reading Royals not only let a 3-0 lead slip away for a 4-3 loss in overtime but they also let the Kalamazoo Wings back into the series that one way or another be settled Monday night in the fifth and final game of the best-of-five series (2-2) in the American Conference Quarter Finals. The thing that will stand out in most, however, will be the controversial goal that let the K-wings back into the game to begin with. Reading took a 3-0 lead for the third consecutive game at the 2:54 mark of the second period when Ben Gordon slipped a perfect pass from behind the Kalamazoo net to Olivier Labelle who was planted just of the left side of the crease. Wing goaltender Riley Gill made a pad stop on the first shot, but Labelle got the rebound and drove it home for his second of the night. The K-Wings broke through 1:41 later when Mitch Versteeg fired a high shot from the right point that deflected off the stick of Brian McGuirk and went in just under the cross-bar. The Royals argued that the puck was deflected in with a high stick, but the goal was allowed and cut the Royals lead to 3-1. Kalamazoo cut the lead to one 2:14 into the third period when Trent Daavetilla scored from the left circle by ripping a shot past Dalton for his third of the playoffs. The K-Wings tied the game with just 38.1 seconds left in regulation when the goaltender was pulled and the K-Wings kept the play alive in the Royals’ defensive zone with a strong attack and created a wild scramble in and around the Royals’ net. Mathieu Curadeau batted for a loose puck at the right side of the Royals’ net and put the puck past Matt Dalton for the game tying goal.
In overtime, Curadeau would once again play hero when he scored only 2:51 in by ripping a hard snap shot off the top of the right circle that beat Dalton high glove side.
Despite the loss and the controversy over the disputed goal, the Royals will have to pick up the pieces quickly and keep the offense going if they are to have a shot at pulling off the upset in the series. On the other side of the ice the K-Wings will try to recapture the momentum they gained in order to beat back the pesky Royals.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
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