ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs Northern Division wild card game

Scouting the Royals (37-25-10)
 

   Lighting the lamp: Leading scorers are linemates Graig Mischler (13 goals-44 assists—57 points), Kent Davyduke (26-27—53) and F Judd Medak (22-26—48).
 

   Between the pipes: G Cody Rudkowsky (24-18-4, 2.38 goals-against average, .926 save percentage) is expected to start.
 

   Ice chips: After going 4-8-2 in March, rebounded with two wins over the weekend to clinch its first trip to the postseason since the franchise moved to Reading in 2001 . . . Set Royals marks for points (84) and wins (37) . . . Key for their defense is the expected return of Doug Nolan from Manchester of the American Hockey League . . . Fifth-year coach Derek Clancey has sent his teams to the playoffs four straight seasons.
 

   Quotable: "It’s a smaller arena, so it plays better for their ‘D’ who aren’t as mobile as maybe some of the other teams in the league.
   "Basically, we’re just going to have to dump it in, get in on them and make sure when we play in a small rink, a small neutral zone, every little turnover or transition can end up in the back of your net. So it’s just play a patient game and don’t do anything that’s really going to cost us." — Royals center Graig Mischler on Johnstown and Cambria County War Memorial.
 

Scouting the Chiefs (45-20-7)
 

   Lighting the lamp: Leading scorers are Dominic Forget (26 goals-37 assists—63 points) and Steve Hildenbrand (28-34—62).
   

   Between the pipes: Johnstown’s goaltenders are David Currie (19-10-3, 2.93 goals-against average, .905 save percentage) and Dimitri Patzold (7-0-0, 2.71 gaa, .908 sp).
   

   Ice chips: With 97 points and 45 wins, completed best regular season in 16-year history . . . Have qualified for the ECHL playoffs 10 times . . . Missed postseason last year, which snapped a stretch of three straight trips to the playoffs . . . First pro playoff game for second-year coach Toby O’Brien.
   

-- Compiled by Julie Pelchar