North Division Semifinals Game 2 Preview: Reading at Manchester

Monarchs lead best-of-seven series, 1-0   

Manchester, NH – The Reading Royals (0-0-1 postseason) finish up the weekend with the second game of a back-to-back in Game 2 of the Kelly Cup Playoffs North Division Semifinals at Manchester (1-0-0 postseason) Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

In Game 1, Reading forced double overtime and lost to Manchester, 3-2, on a goal at 17:38 by Sam Kurker. Including the postseason, Reading is 3-2-1-0 at the SNHU Arena this season.

After Game 2, the Royals return to Reading for Game 3, Game 4 and Game 5 (if necessary) at Santander Arena. Game 3 is Mon., Apr. 16, Game 4 is Wed., Apr. 18 and Game 5 is Thurs., Apr. 19 (if necessary). All playoff games at Santander Arena begin at 7:00 p.m. and tickets are available here. The Royals ticket offices will be open Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 12:00-4:00 p.m. for fans interested in purchasing playoff tickets.

The Reading Royals will continue to collect donations and raise money for those affected by the Humboldt Broncos’ tragedy for Reading’s first two home playoff games Mon., Apr. 16 and Wed., Apr. 18 at 7:00 p.m. Proceeds from tickets purchased at this link or by calling 610-898-7825 will go to the families and others affected.

Tickets are now available for the Royals’ home playoff games by calling 610-898-7825. The Royals are offering 5 playoff vouchers starting at $85. Use the five vouchers at any home playoff games. The team is also providing curbside ticket service; call 610-898-7825 and a Royals ticket staff member will provide you with your tickets outside the Lion’s Den Team Store at the corner of 8th Ave. and Penn St.

Coverage of all playoff games starts 15 minutes before puck drop on RumbaReading.com. All road playoff games will be broadcast on BCTV (Channel 15 Comcast, Channel 19 Service Electric) and RumbaReading.com.

Series Schedule: Monarchs lead best-of-seven series, 1-0Game 1 at Manchester: Monarchs 3, Royals 2 (2 OT).Game 2 at Manchester: Sat, Apr. 14, 6:00 p.m.Game 3 vs. Manchester: Mon, Apr. 16, 7:00 p.m., Santander ArenaGame 4 vs. Manchester: Wed, Apr. 18, 7:00 p.m., Santander ArenaGame 5 vs. Manchester (if necessary): Thu, Apr. 19, 7:00 p.m., Santander ArenaGame 6 at Manchester (if necessary): Sat, Apr. 21, 3:00 p.m.Game 7 at Manchester (if necessary): Tue, Apr. 24, 7:00 p.m.

Definitely not outThe Royals have won six series and dropped six when falling behind a series, 1-0. In 13 previous playoff runs, the Royals have only fallen behind a series, 2-0, twice. The last time was in 2011 to Kalamazoo in the 2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Reading has won Game 2 the last four times when trailing, 1-0.

The Monarchs are 1-1 in series when winning the first game. Last season, Manchester advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, winning Game 1 vs. Adirondack in round 1 and Game 1 vs. South Carolina in the Conference Finals.

Game 2 historyThe Royals are 16-6-1 all-time in Game 2 of a series, the most wins of any game during a best-of-seven. From 2012-15, Reading won seven straight “game twos”. That included winning four consecutive during the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Last season, Reading dropped Game 2 against Brampton in overtime, 2-1.

The Monarchs advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals last season and won all three game twos. Since joining the ECHL, Manchester is 3-0-1 in Game 2.

Looking to establishThe Royals and Monarchs both have players with title-game experience. John Muse is the only Royals player with a North American professional championship, winning the 2012 Kelly Cup and Kelly Cup Playoffs MVP for the Florida Everblades. Manchester’s Ashton Rome (2010 Calder Cup) and Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman (2008 Calder Cup) have the professional championships for the Monarchs.

Goaltender Evan Cowley won the NCAA National Championship with Denver in 2017 and is the only Monarchs player to win the NCAA title. Muse did it twice with Boston College and Charlie Vasaturo, Matt Wilkins and Mark Bennett won the 2014 title with Union.

Nine active Royals and Monarchs were on their squads last postseason. In the 2016 postseason, Matt Leitner and Craig Wyzomirski played for Manchester. That same year, Nick Luukko played two first-round games for the Royals.

The marvelous MooseDespite losing in overtime, John Muse had his first-ever 50+ save performance (54 saves) in the 3-2 loss Friday. Muse made at least ten saves in every period during regulation, including 17 in the first. It was the longest game he has ever been a part of (97:38).

Muse topped the league with a .931 save percentage during the regular season. In 14 career ECHL postseason games, he is 11-2-1 with a 1.79 goals against average and .940 save percentage.

Both Muse and Manchester goalie Charles Williams have not lost in regulation to the opponent yet this regular season. Williams went 3-0-0-2 vs. Reading during the regular season. Muse is 3-0-1-0 overall vs. Manchester, including Game 1.

Special teamsReading (0-for-5) and Manchester (0-for-2) both failed to score on the man up in Game 1. Last playoffs, the Royals had the best penalty kill of any playoff team (23-for-25, 92%) while Manchester’s power play ranked best in the Eastern Conference (19%, 17-for-90).

This regular season, the penalty kills ranked next to each other in league ranking, with Manchester (7th in league, 84.7%) finishing a tick above the Royals (8th, 84.4%). Reading surrendered the third-fewest power-play goals in the league (34), took the fewest PIM in the league (658) and was short-handed the fewest times in the league (3 times per game). In contrast, Manchester was short-handed 287 times this season (about 4 times a game).

Reading’s man up converted in back-to- back games to end the regular season and finished the regular season ranked 20th in the league at 16%. Manchester scored on 18.5% of man-up chances (7th).

2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs Tickets On SaleLock down your Kelly Cup Playoff tickets by calling 610-898-7825. A Royals team member will provide you with curbside service outside the Lion’s Den Team Store at the corner of 8th and Penn Street; just call 610-898-7825 and we will deliver your tickets without leaving your car.

The Royals are offering five playoff vouchers for $85. Use the five vouchers at any home playoff games!

Miniplans available for 2018-19!Call 610-898-7825 to learn more about 9, 12 and 18 game mini-plans for the 2018-19 season!

2018-19 season tickets now availableTop full-season benefits include: exclusive Reading Hockey Club per seat gift, discounted rate off regular ticket prices, ticket exchange, preseason meet and greet, exclusive season ticket holder events, advanced entry and a chance to win and the Royals Owner’s Suite for a game. Call 610-898-7825 and visit to join the Royals family or renew season tickets for the 2018-19 season. Visit royalshockey.com/tickets/season-tickets to learn more.

About the RoyalsThe Royals have been owned by serial entrepreneur Jack Gulati since 2014 and are in their 17th ECHL season. Proudly affiliated with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Reading plays in the Santander Arena, located in downtown Reading, PA at 700 Penn Street. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013, have made the playoffs in eight straight seasons and are four-time division champions.

Broadcast CoverageAll Royals game can be heard on Rumba 1340 AM and the iHeartRadio app by searching “Rumba 1340”. The pregame show starts 15 minutes before puck drop. Watch Royals games on ECHL.tv. Reading away games are shown locally on BCTV.