READING, PA– They say in sports that the only thing that matters is to make the playoffs, then anything can happen. You can bet the Reading Royals have taken that theory to heart. Friday night the Royals defeated the Kalamazoo Wings 5-2 in Game Three of their ECHL Quarter Final playoff series and look to win the series on Sunday evening at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Royals scored 2:01 into the game and held a 3-0 first period lead but had to hold off a strong second period charge from the K-Wings. Royals goaltender Matt Dalton was once again the key to victory by coming up with some tough saves when he needed to. On the other end of the ice Kalamazoo’s Ryan Nie started the game but was replaced after the Royal’s second goal 5:39 into the game. Riley Gill came on in relief but he would do no better. The Royals were able to generate plenty of offense and kept the pressure on the K-wings net throughout the game.
Reading scored 2:01 into the game when Jimmy Fraser took control of the puck along the wall in the offensive zone and fired a cross-ice pass to the right side of the K-Wings’ net. Yannick Riendeau deflected the puck by Nie for his second goal of the playoffs. The Royals extended their lead to 2-1 when Olivier Labelle worked the puck to the left point where Scott Langdon fired a low, hard shot towards the net. Ryan Cruthers, who was at the left side of the net, redirected the puck past Nie for his third goal of the playoffs 5:39 into the game.
Kalamazoo got two goals back, their first short-handed to get back into the game to make it 3-2. However, the third period belonged to the Royals, especially when Giliati scored his second of the game 9:52 into the third period. The K-Wings came on with a ton of pressure after the goal but could not get another shot past Dalton and have now put themselves in a hole they might not get out of.
The Royals and K-Wings return to the Sovereign Center for Game Four where the Royals can win their first playoff series since 2008 when they defeated the Elmira Jackals in six games.
Contact the author at Brian.jennings@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.