READING, Pa – The Reading Royals went into Game Seven of their ECHL Playoff series against the Toledo Walleye having won only once in a seventh game in their history. All of their previous losses came on the road with their only win at home. On Tuesday night Royals made history by not only winning a game seven on the road but pulled off a major upset as the eighth seed defeating the top seed Walleye Toledo 4-1 to advance to the second round of the playoffs.
For the second time in the series the Royals were propelled to a win off the backs of a hat trick. Kevin Goumas had 8 goals in only 15 games for the Royals during the regular season. In college at the University of New Hampshire he was first player in school history to have over 100 career points. On Tuesday he showed why pulling off the hat trick in the team’s most desperate hour.
The Royals were pounded all night getting outshot in every period and 38-20 in the game. Reading goaltender Martin Ouellette once again showed why he was one of the league’s best goalies with 37 saves. Jeff Lerg, a former NCAA champion at Michigan State, took the loss for Toledo.
Nikita Kashirsky, a former member of the Royals on their championship team in 2013, had Reading’s only other goal while defenseman Matt Caito had the lone goal for Toledo. Reading did not have a power play the entire game while Toledo went 0-3. It was the third time this series that the Walleye did not score on the power play.
The Royals will now face the Wheeling Nailers in the second round beginning Friday night in Wheeling.
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