After averaging nearly four goals per game in the opening round of the Kelly Cup playoffs, the Reading Royals offense was virtually nonexistent on Saturday night.
Second-seeded Reading was shut out by top-seeded Newfoundland, falling 3-0 in Game 1 of the ECHL North Division finals at Santander Arena.
“We only have ourselves to blame,” Royals coach James Henry said. “I don’t think it was necessarily the positive things that Newfoundland was doing, it’s the poor things that we did or the things that we weren’t capable of doing today.”
Reading mustered 30 shots after entering the game averaging 36.3 per game in the postseason. The loss marked the first time the Royals had been shutout in a playoff game since they lost 4-0 to Maine in Game 4 of last year’s ECHL North Division semifinals.
“Our work ethic was there at times, but it wasn’t there for the entire game,” Henry said. “We didn’t play well enough to win.”
Growlers goaltender Dryden McKay recorded 30 saves. He is 5-0 in five playoff starts.
“He played really well,” Reading forward Charlie Gerard said. “I feel like we didn’t really test him much until the third period.”
Newfoundland opened the scoring just over three minutes into the first period on a goal by forward Keenan Suthers. Forwards Isaac Johnson and Jack Badini had the assists.
The Growlers extended their lead to 2-0 on an unassisted goal from Johnson early in the third period. The goal was Johnson’s third in the postseason.
Newfoundland sealed it with an empty-net goal from forward Orrin Centazzo with less than two minutes remaining. Defenseman Mikko Kokkonen and forward Todd Skirving were credited with the assists.
“They came out wanting to win,” Gerard said about the Growlers. “We all had to be better.”
The Royals went 0-for-3 on the power play. They had a four-on-three advantage early in the second period, but were unable to capitalize.
“We just weren’t sharp enough,” Henry said. “The most simple aspects of our power play we weren’t able to execute.”
Reading goaltender Pat Nagle recorded 20 saves. He entered the game with a 4-1 record in this season’s Kelly Cup playoffs.
“He made some saves to keep us in the game,” Henry said. “He definitely gave us an opportunity to win.”
The two teams will meet in Game 2 on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Santander Arena. Game 3 will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Santander Arena.
“Every game is important,” Gerard said. “We just got to rally back.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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