READING, Pa – So far this playoff season the Reading Royals have prided themselves on two major items: Balanced scoring and solid goaltending. Both came into play once again as the Royals defeated the Wheeling Nailers 3-1 with a chance to close out another playoff opponent on the road on Monday night in Wheeling.
During the playoffs the Royals have had 14 different scorers in 12 games. Tonight’s heroes were Justin Crandall, Maxim Lamarche, and Cam Reid, and Kevin Goumas. Wheeling’s lone tally came off the stick of Clark Seymour.
The Royals stayed with veteran goaltender Adam Morrison who now leads ECHL goaltenders in Goals Against Average (1.47) and Save Percentage (.949) in five games allowing only seven goals on 138 shots. The Royals would need every one of those saves tonight as the Royals were outshot 30-21 and 9-3 in the third period. Still, the Royals scored a goal in all three periods.
The Nailers started Franky Palazzese for the second game in a row in net instead of goaltender Brian Foster who made 18 saves on 20 shots. Wheeling once again had the games only power play goal. The Royals and Nailers have so far combined for 15 power play goals in 97 chances.
Goumas’ goal was this 5th of the playoffs and his 14 points are now tied with two other players for second in the league in points, one behind the league leader Shawn Szydlowski of the Fort Wayne Komets. If there is a Game Seven it will also be in Wheeling on Wednesday.
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