ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland – The Newfoundland Growlers advanced to the Eastern Conference Final thanks to a 5-2 Game 5 win over the Reading Royals on Saturday night at Mary Brown’s Centre.
Zayde Wisdom opened the scoring for Reading just over two minutes into the contest with a heavy backhand shot to give the Royals an early 1-0 lead.
Pavel Gogolev and Tyler Boland scored two and a half minutes apart late in the first period to give the Growlers a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Orrin Centazzo made it 3-1 Newfoundland just 14 seconds into the middle frame before Charlie Gerard clawed one back for Reading late in the 2nd to cut it to 3-2 Newfoundland.
Gogolev notched his second powerplay snipe of the game in the last minute of the second period to put Newfoundland up 4-2 going into the third period.
Todd Skirving provided an insurance tally with 3:47 to go as he finished off a great 2-on-1 rush to make it a 5-2 final sending the Growlers back to the Eastern Conference final for the second straight season.
Newfoundland await the winner of Florida vs. Jacksonville to determine their Eastern Conference Final opponent.
Newfoundland wins series 4-1
Game 1 – NEWFOUNDLAND 3 at Reading 0
Game 2 – NEWFOUNDLAND 5 at Reading 4 (OT)
Game 3 – NEWFOUNDLAND 6 at Reading 3
Game 4 – READING 6 at Newfoundland 3
Game 5 – Reading 2 at NEWFOUNDLAND 5
With Newfoundland Growlers release
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