
Royals Face off against Growlers in Game 3 in St.John's
May 10, 2022 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release
The Reading Royals, proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, continue their second round against the Newfoundland Growlers in Game 3 of the 2022 Kelly Cup playoff Division Final round on Tuesday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m. EST at Mary Brown's Centre. This is the twelfth meeting between the two teams this season where Reading leads the season series with a 6-4-1 record against the Growlers. The Royals will be on the road for three games in three days before returning back to Reading for Game 6 Saturday, May 14, and Game 7 Monday May 16, if necessary.
Reading fell to Newfoundland in Game 2 of the playoff series, 4-1, Sunday, May 8 at Santander Arena. Zach O'Brien's three-point game(1G, 2A's) along with Ben Finklestein's two-point night(1G, 1A) and a 26 save performance from Keith Petruzzelli provided the Growlers a bounce back win to even the series at 1-1 heading back to St.John's, Newfoundland for three straight.
Finkelstein opened the scoring with his first of two points 11:19 into the first period on the power play. Finklestein beat Pat Nagle, who saved 32 of 35 shots faced, glove side to score his second goal of the postseason and provide Newfoundland an early lead after the first period, 1-0.
O'Brien and Tyler Boland extended Newfoundland's lead to three with a pair of goals in the second period. A Royals' turnover on their own end allowed O'Brien to play the puck and snap a shot through Nagle's five-hole for his third goal of the postseason while Boland buried a one-timer for the Growlers second power play goal of the game for his team leading ninth goal in the playoffs. O'Brien and Finklestein earned the helpers on Boland's first goal of the series as O'Brien collected his third point and Finkelstein earned his second point in the game.
Reading's lone goal of the game came in the third period off of a redirection from Kevin Conley. The rookie scored his second goal of the series as well as his Kelly Cup playoff career to cut Newfoundland's lead down to two goals. However, the Growlers sealed the Game 2 victory with an empty net goal scored by Derian Plouffe with 30 seconds remaining in the third period. Reading's specialty teams went 0-for-4 on the power play and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill as Newfoundland scored two of their three goals on Nagle on the man advantage.
The Royals finished as the first place in the North Division and continue a best of seven series against the Newfoundland Growlers who are the second seed in the Eastern Conference in the Kelly Cup playoffs. Reading hoisted a 45-17-7-2 record with a .693 point percentage while the Growlers finished second place in the North Division with a .664 point percentage. The Growlers eliminated the third seeded Trois-Rivières Lions in their Divisional Semifinal round four games to three.
UPCOMING KELLY CUP PLAYOFF GAMES
Division Finals (vs. Newfoundland Growlers):
GAME 3 - AWAY (Tuesday, May 10 5:30 p.m.EST)
GAME 4 - AWAY (Wednesday, May 11 5:30 p.m. EST)
GAME 5* - AWAY (Thursday, May 12 5:30 p.m. EST)
GAME 6* - HOME (Saturday, May 14 at 7:00 p.m. EST): BUY TICKETS!
GAME 7* - HOME (Monday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. EST): BUY TICKETS!
*If necessary
Buy tickets HERE: https://bit.ly/2ndRdKellyCupPlayoffs
Reading Royals season, flex memberships and group tickets are available for the 2022-23 season by visiting the Royals' box office at Santander Arena or by calling 610-898-7825.
Images from this story
![]() Reading Royals defenseman Mason Millman (center) |
ECHL Stories from May 10, 2022
- Johnson; Everblades Blank Florida in Game 3 - Jacksonville Icemen
- Wheeling Comeback Falls One Goal Short in Game Three - Wheeling Nailers
- Walleye Hold off Nailers, 5-4, to Take 3-0 Series Lead - Toledo Walleye
- Everblades Take 3-0 Series Lead Behind Johnson's Second Playoff Shutout - Florida Everblades
- Growlers Edged out 3-1 by Royals in Game 3 - Newfoundland Growlers
- Nagle's 33 Saves Backstop Royals Game 3 Win over Growlers - Reading Royals
- ECHL Transactions - May 10 - ECHL
- Utah Looks to Complete Series Sweep - Utah Grizzlies
- Game Notes: Game 4 vs Utah - Rapid City Rush
- Everblades Primed to Extend Series Lead on the Road - Florida Everblades
- Royals Face off against Growlers in Game 3 in St.John's - Reading Royals
- D'Astous and Company Leads Utah to 6-2 Game 3 Win - Utah Grizzlies
- Rapid City Drops Game 3, 6-2 - Rapid City Rush
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