Royals Get Whacked by Wheeling in Game Six, 8-3

Click Here for Box Score

Teams     Per: 1          2          3

REA:              1         1          1=3

WHL:             2         0          6=8

Series

REA: 3-2-1

WHL: 3-3-0

Overall Playoff Record

REA: 7-5-1

WHL: 7-5-0

Goaltenders

REA: Morrison (Loss) 3-3-0 (39/46)

WHL: Foster (Win) 5-3-0 (32/35)

Power Play:

REA: 1-5

WHL: 3-4

Wheeling, WV – The Reading Royals (­­­­­­­­­loss, 7-5-1) of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, were defeated by the Wheeling Nailers (win, 7-5-0) of the ECHL, affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League, 8-3, in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Semifinal best-of-seven playoff series at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia. The second round series now heads to a Game Seven resolution on Wednesday in Wheeling.

For the third consecutive playoff series—one in the first round of this year’s playoff season, the Royals are headed to a decisive Game Seven after falling short in another opportunity to close out the opposition in an elimination Game Six. This one was close until the third, when the Nailers exploded for six straight to send the Royals reeling. This marked the first game of the playoff season for the Royals in which the team scored first and didn’t win (7-1-0). The team scored last as well, but in between the goals came fast and furious, particularly in the final frame, when Wheeling seemed to score in every conceivable fashion, which the Royals will have to simply wipe from the memory banks if the team wants to get to the Conference Finals for the fourth time in team history.

Reading struck early when Ian Watters threw a wrister from the right point that appeared to bounce off of Scott Tanski, who was battling for position in front of the net, and flutter over goaltender Brian Foster and into the net for Tanski’s first of the playoff season, 2:38 into the game.

Wheeling tied the game 5:53 into the first when defenseman Matthew Maione, who would end up with three assists, drilled a hot shot from just inside the blue line that was deflected by Ty Loney who was planted in front of goaltender Adam Morrison for his fourth of the playoff season.

The Nailers took their first lead at 2-1 16:55 into the first on their first power play chance when Brett Stern drilled a blast from the right point that appeared to deflect off a Reading defender and elude Morrison for Stern’s first of the playoff season.

Reading tied the game at two 3:49 into the second period on the team’s first power play chance of the night, when it was Maxim Lamarche’s turn to rip one from the high slot that buzzed by Foster for his third of the post-season.

The scoring spree started thirty-three seconds into the third, when John McCarron, who was buzzing by at the right side of Reading’s net, punched back a rebound of a Ty Loney shot from point blank range. The Nailers got what proved to be the game winner on their third power play chance of the game, when Jarrett Burton snapped one off from wide on the left side that appeared to strike the stick of a Reading defender and buzz over the catching glove of Morrison.

The insurance goals came in less than stellar fashion for the Royals. A terrible defensive zone turnover below the goal line resulted in a wide open chance for Clark Seymour out in front of Reading’s net 10:50 into the third. Then the Royals got caught up ice resulting in an odd-man three-on-two rush for the Nailers, which ended when Dan O’Donahue stepped up hard down the left wing side for a weak side bury 14:45 into the third. Derek Army bagged an easy empty netter out of the right circle, while the Nailers were playing with the man advantage 17:02 into the third; and O’Donahue notched his second of the period thirty-eight seconds later on a wide open chance from the low slot after another blown defensive assignment out front by Reading.

Thirty-three seconds after that Nikita Kashirsky bagged his second of the playoff season—and twenty-eighth playoff point as a Royal (7g-21a) to become the third leading post-season scorer in team history—but that was way too little, way too late as the Royals and Nailers head to the first Game Seven ever at WesBanco Arena.

NEXT UP FOR THE ROYALS

Game Seven Eastern Conference Semi-final Best-of-Seven Playoff Series

Reading Royals v Wheeling Nailers

@ WesBanco Arena – Wheeling, West Virginia

Wednesday, May 11, 2016 (7:00 pm Eastern Time)

NEXT UP: The Royals and Nailers face-off in Game Seven of their Eastern Conference Semi-Final matchup on Wednesday (May 11 @ 7:00 pm) at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia. Game Seven can be heard live on CBS SportsRadio 1240 AM and 98.5 FM in Reading, starting with the pre-game warm-up show presented by Highmark Blue Shield at 6:30 pm Eastern Time. Game Seven will be televised in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on BCTV courtesy of Boscov’s Travel and Apple Vacations. Streaming audio is available free of charge on the Royals’ website (follow the ‘headset’ icon); and streaming video is available on a pay-per-view basis through ECHL.TV.  For more information about the Royals, call 610-898-7825 or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

Eastern Conference Semifinal Best-of-Seven Series

Friday, April 29 – @ Wheeling                      Nailers 4- Royals 1                              Wheeling Leads Series 1-0

Monday, May 2 - @ Wheeling                       Royals 4 – Nailers 2                            Series Tied 1-1

Wednesday, May 4 @ Reading                    Royals 4 – Nailers 1                           Reading Leads Series 2-1

Thursday, May 5 @ Reading                       Nailers 2 – Reading 1 (3OT)             Series Tied 2-2

Saturday, May 7 @ Reading                        Royals 3 – Nailers 1                           Reading Leads Series 3-2

Monday, May 9 @ Wheeling                         Nailers 8 – Royals 3                            Series Tied 3-3

Wednesday, May 11 (7:05 pm) – WesBanco Arena

End 16 05-09