May 4-6

Wednesday and Thursday nights at the Arena for games #3 and #4 with the Wheeling Nailers. The clubs entered Wednesday with the series tied at a game apiece and ended Thursday still even at 2-2. In the Wednesday game the Royals never trailed in a 4-1 win, goals from Mike Marcou, late-season addition Michael Pelech, Maxim Lamarche and Cam Reid (the game-winner) supported an outstanding effort in net by Adam Morrison. Thursday's game was one for the ages as the Nailers got even with a 2-1 victory in TRIPLE overtime. Wheeling took a 1-0 lead in the second period, with seven minutes left in regulation Brandon Alderson found the net to tie the score. The teams would battle through two complete extra periods, the marathon finally ended in the fifth minute of the third overtime on a Wheeling breakaway score. Martin Ouellette started in goal on this night and suffered the hard-luck loss but still earned the game's #2 star. The 104:22 of time played is the longest game in Royals history and marks the first time the club had played triple overtime, the four hours and twenty-two minutes of actual time elapsed (7:00 start to 11:22 conclusion) is almost certainly a record as well. The series is now essentially a best-of-three, the pivotal game #5 is at the Arena on Saturday the 7th. By the time I had Jenny and Helen home and myself as well it was past 1:00, a late NHL playoff game was still going on TV and I was in no mood for bed just yet. That game ended up in triple OT, it actually went longer than our game had and didn't after shortly past 2:00 at which point I could finally call it a night. I slept until almost 10:30 on Friday morning, the late-morning/early-afternoon errand run was the extent of the day's activities. Rain moved into the area overnight and stayed around just about all day and night so it was a miserable day all the way around. Take care, thanks for reading.