A spot opposite the Florida Everblades in the Eastern Conference Finals is on the line tonight when the Reading Royals host the Newfoundland Growlers in Game 7 of the North Division Finals. It is the 51st Game 7 in ECHL postseason history, and the fifth in the 2022 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Tonight marks Reading's seventh Game 7 all-time, and its second at home. The Royals are 2-4 in their previous Game 7 appearances, including a 4-1 win over Florida in the 2013 Eastern Conference Semifinals in their only previous Game 7 on home ice.
Newfoundland is appearing in a Game 7 for the second consecutive series after defeating Trois-Rivières 5-2 in the North Division Semifinals. The Growlers are the 17th team in ECHL postseason history to force a Game 7 after trailing a series 3 games to 1. Seven of the previous 16 teams to have forced a Game 7 in that situation won the series. Newfoundland is also looking to join Wheeling from the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals against South Carolina as the only team to ever win Games 6 and 7 of a best-of-seven series on the road.
The home team is 35-15 all-time in ECHL Game 7s - including 3-1 in the 2022 Kelly Cup Playoffs - and has won 22 of the last 30. Eleven Game 7s have gone beyond regulation, with four being decided in two overtimes and one in three overtimes. The home team has won eight of the 11 games decided in overtime.
Game 7s in ECHL History
| DATE | TEAMS | ROUND |
| May 4, 2022 | Tulsa 2 at UTAH 5 | DSF |
| May 3, 2022 | WHEELING 3 at Fort Wayne 2 | DSF |
| May 3, 2022 | Cincinnati 2 at TOLEDO 4 | DSF |
| May 3, 2022 | Trois-Rivières 2 at NEWFOUNDLAND 5 | DSF |
| May 22, 2019 | TOLEDO 6 at Tulsa 2 | CF |
| April 24, 2019 | Kansas City 2 at TULSA 6 | DSF |
| June 9, 2018 | COLORADO 3 at Florida 2 | KCF |
| May 23, 2018 | Fort Wayne 3 at COLORADO 4 (OT) | CF |
| April 25, 2018 | Allen 1 at IDAHO 4 | DSF |
| May 24, 2017 | SOUTH CAROLINA 4 at Manchester 3 | CF |
| April 26, 2017 | Orlando 4 at FLORIDA 7 | DSF |
| April 25, 2017 | Kalamazoo 1 at TOLEDO 3 | DSF |
| May 24, 2016 | WHEELING 5 at South Carolina 2 | CF |
| May 11, 2016 | Adirondack 2 at SOUTH CAROLINA 3 (2 OT) | CSF |
| May 11, 2016 | Reading 3 at WHEELING 4 (OT) | CSF |
| April 27, 2016 | Idaho 2 at ALLEN 3 (OT) | CQF |
| April 27, 2016 | Cincinnati 0 at FORT WAYNE 2 | CQF |
| April 26, 2016 | READING 4 at Toledo 1 | CQF |
| June 14, 2015 | South Carolina 1 at ALLEN 6 | KCF |
| May 27, 2015 | SOUTH CAROLINA 1 at Toledo 0 (3 OT) | CF |
| May 27, 2015 | Ontario 1 at ALLEN 3 | CF |
| May 13, 2015 | Fort Wayne 2 at TOLEDO 5 | DF |
| April 29, 2015 | Quad City 1 at RAPID CITY 2 | DSF |
| April 29, 2015 | Wheeling 1 at TOLEDO 2 (OT) | DSF |
| April 29, 2015 | Reading 2 at SOUTH CAROLINA 3 | DSF |
| April 28, 2015 | Colorado 2 at ONTARIO 4 | DSF |
| May 1, 2013 | Florida 1 at READING 4 | CSF |
| April 14, 2013 | Las Vegas 4 at STOCKTON 6 | CQF |
| April 27, 2011 | WHEELING 4 at Greenville 3 (OT) | CSF |
| May 12, 2010 | Reading 0 at CINCINNATI 1 | CF |
| April 28, 2010 | CINCINNATI 2 at Charlotte 1 | CSF |
| June 5, 2009 | SOUTH CAROLINA 4 at Alaska 2 | KCF |
| May 6, 2009 | Stockton 1 at LAS VEGAS 5 | DF |
| April 22, 2009 | STOCKTON 5 at Ontario 4 | DSF |
| April 22, 2009 | Bakersfield 1 at LAS VEGAS 5 | DSF |
| April 21, 2009 | ELMIRA 5 at Trenton 3 | DSF |
| April 20, 2009 | Wheeling 1 at CINCINNATI 2 (2 OT) | DSF |
| May 5, 2008 | Reading 1 at CINCINNATI 6 | DF |
| May 18, 2007 | DAYTON 3 at Florida 1 | CF |
| May 3, 2007 | Cincinnati 3 at DAYTON 5 | DF |
| May 22, 2006 | Fresno 2 at ALASKA 3 (2 OT) | CF |
| May 6, 2006 | Bakersfield 2 at FRESNO 4 | DF |
| April 22, 2006 | Long Beach 3 at BAKERSFIELD 4 | DSF |
| April 19, 2006 | Idaho 2 at LAS VEGAS 6 | DSF |
| May 16, 2005 | TRENTON 2 at Alaska 0 | CF |
| May 3, 2003 | Cincinnati 2 at ATLANTIC CITY 3 | CF |
| May 13, 2001 | Peoria 3 at TRENTON 4 | CF |
| May 30, 1999 | Richmond 3 at MISSISSIPPI 4 (2 OT) | KCF |
| March 31, 1992 | Roanoke Valley 2 at GREENSBORO 6 | 1st |
| April 12, 1989 | CAROLINA 7 at Johnstown 4 | RCF |
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