Monday evening at the Arena for game #3 of the first round of ECHL playoffs. The Royals were in tough against a Trois-Rivieres club that was twenty-one points better during the regular season, by seeding this was the league's fifth-best team versus the fifteenth-best (although within the division it was #4 vs #1). The Royals lost the first two games in Quebec, during this week in Reading the Lions finished the series in a four-game-straight sweep. If it is possible for a team to lose in any crueler fashion I can't imagine how and I certainly wouldn't want to witness it. On Monday TR went up 1-0 six minutes in before Shane Sellar evened it at the first intermission. It stayed that until late in the third, with one minute left in regulation Mason Primeau got a break into the zone and scored to put the Royals up 2-1. The Lions pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker and cashed in with NINE-TENTHS OF A SECOND remaining to even it 2-2 and force overtime. In the first OT Trois-Rivières scored the apparent game-winner which was disallowed for goaltender interference, five minutes into the second OT they scored again and this one stood up for the 3-2 win and a 3-0 series lead. Vinnie Purpura got the start on Monday, two nights later Keith Petruzzelli was in goal as the Lions finished the sweep. TR led 2-1 after one with Mason Primeau scoring for the Royals, Shane Sellar's goal early in the second knotted it 2-2. Much like Monday it came down to the final moments, with four minutes left TR took the lead and added two empty-netters to clinch the game and the series 5-2. Obviously a disappointing way to end the season but there's a lot to feel good about nonetheless. The Royals returned to the postseason after a one-year absence and gave the division's top team all they could handle and more. Matt Brown was the club's leading scorer, Tyler Gratton was the leading goal-getter with twenty. Petruzzelli (34 appearances) and Purpura (24) were the club's goaltending leaders, Parker Gahagen also reached double-digit appearances with ten. In an oddity the team went the entire season without recording a hattrick, a shutout or an overtime win at home (2-8 with both wins coming in the shootout). October isn't far away and it won't be long before we're Back Home. Take care, thanks for reading.
