Stingrays crushed in Game 6 vs. Reading; will play first-ever Game 7 at North Charleston Coliseum

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - The Reading Royals scored six unanswered goals to drop the Stingrays, 6-1, in Game 6 of the ECHL's Eastern Division Semifinals.  That forces the first-ever Game 7 Kelly Cup playoff contest at the North Charleston Coliseum, which will be on Wednesday night.

After a scoreless first period, six goals lit the lamp in the second frame with the Royals taking a 5-1 lead into the intermission. Stingrays forward Joe Devin opened the scoring 1:27 into the frame knocking a rebound past Royals netminder Connor Knapp (W, 18 saves on 19 shots). Forward Sean Dolan and forward Derek DeBlois added assists. The Royals responded 47 seconds later as forward Cam Reid slipped a shot past Stingrays goalie Jeff Jakaitis (L, 18 saves on 22 shots) off the right-wing circle. Half a minute after Reid's tally, forward Andrew Johnson made it 3-1 sticking in a bouncing puck at 2:46.

Reid buried his second goal of the game on the power play past a screened Jakaitis at 4:51. As the second-period clock ticked down, Royals defenseman Adam Comrie blasted in a power-play tally at 17:06. Following the goal, Jakaitis would be pulled in favor of rookie Clay Witt (10 saves on 12 shots), but Comrie would light the lamp again while with an extra skater at 18:26.

The Royals added another power-play goal in the third period to finish the contest 4-for-6. Forward David Marshall knocked in his team-leading fourth goal of the post season at 15:10. The Stingrays ended the game 0-for-2 on the power play.

A decisive Game 7 between the Stingrays and Royals is tomorrow, Wednesday, April 29 at 7:05 p.m. at the North Charleston Coliseum with tickets going on sale at 10:00 a.m. at StingraysHockey.com and Ticketmaster.

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