PORTLAND- Nick Master had a second period goal that proved to be the game winner on Friday night, and goaltender Callum Booth posted a shutout as the Maine Mariners evened their best of seven ECHL Northern Division Playoff series with the Reading Royals at 2-2 with a 4-0 victory before a crowd of 3,969 at the Cross Insurance Arena.
In what was a wide open game on Thursday night that was won by Maine 5-4, this tilt was hard hitting and more more defensive. Both teams had great chances as it remained scoreless for the first 39 minutes of action. The Mariners would even kill off a four minute double minor given to Connor Bleackley for high sticking with 7:08 left in the second period. Master ended the 0-0 deadlock when he picked up his second goal of the playoffs with 53 seconds left in the middle period on assists from Mathew Santos and Andrew Peski. A pair of powerplay markers in the third period by the Mariners wrapped up the win. Alex Kile got the first one at 5:38 on helpers by Santos and Zach Malatesta, and then Cam Askew would make it 3-0 on assists from Kile and Malatesta at 17:22. Keltie Jeri-Leon would add an empty netter at 18:21.
Booth made 32 saves, and several that were Grade A opportunities from Reading. Kile (1 goal, 1 assist), Santos (2 assists), and Malatesta (2 assists) all had two points in the win. The Royals, the top seed in the Northern Division, were led by Trevor Gooch and Patrick McNally who combined for 11 of the 32 shots on net. Logan Flodell made 22 saves in goal in the loss. A pivotal game five is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Portland on Saturday night. Game six and a possible game seven will be played in Reading, Pennsylvania.
