READING, PA – The Kalamazoo Wings picked up right where they left off the night before scoring early and often but this time they had to hang on for dear life by edging the Reading Royals 5-4 and take a 2-0 lead in the ECHL Eastern Conference Semifinals heading back to Kalamazoo Wednesday night. This marks the first time in Royals team history that they have lost the first two games in a best-of-seven playoff series.
The K-Wings exploded for three goals in a twenty-nine second span early in the first period. Royals goaltender Ben Scrivens took the loss in his first ever start in the playoffs in his pro career, this his rookie season. Reading scored a power play goal late in the second period to get within one (4-3), but was unable to capitalize on a five-on-three earlier in the second.
Justin Taylor was the game’s first star of the night scoring twice on Kalamazoo’s second and third goals of the game. After the K-wings took a 4-1 lead into the second period, Reading came out storming in the second period and cut the K-Wings lead to 4-2 when the K-Wings sent a puck towards the left point from deep in the offensive zone. The puck slid through to the neutral zone, where Yannick Riendeau battled through a check to gain possession and take off on a breakaway. Riendeau laid down a perfect forehand-backhand-forehand stuff for his second of the playoff season 1:20 into the second period. 
The Royals broke through again with a late period power play goal with 1:44 left in the period when Jared Ross fired off the right side with the rebound sliding to the left circle. That’s where Rob Kwiet gained possession and slipped a back-hand through Ryan Nie for his first of the playoff season.
The K-Wings then regained a two goal lead with a power play goal that proved to be the game winner 2:50 into the third. Sam Ftorek set up Strong for a one-timer out of the left circle. Scrivens made the save on the shot, but Darryl Lloyd punched the rebound back through his legs for his second of the playoff season. From that point forward, the K-Wings kept the Royals at bay, thwarting a number of scoring chances. However, Ben Gordon made it a one-goal game again with four minutes left in regulation when he put back a rebound of a Rob Kwiet for Gordon’s second of the playoff season. The comeback effort would fall short with the Royals staring down the barrel of a 2-0 series hole.
You must be logged in to post a comment.