Royals five-game playoff winning streak snapped

Tavistock Royals forwards Drew Gerth (14) and Mitch Atkins (93) get set at a faceoff at the Tavistock and District Recreation Centre on Sunday afternoon. Seaforth won the game 4-3 in overtime to tie the Ontario Elite Hockey League (OEHL) Southern Division semi-final series at one win apiece. Contributed photo

By Lee Griffi

All good things must come to an end, as the old saying goes, and for the Tavistock Royals, a five-game playoff run of victories was halted on Sunday afternoon.

Tavistock swept the Erin Outlaws, allowing just one goal against in four games as goalie Andrew Masters went nearly 239 minutes without surrendering a goal against. He was up to his old tricks in Game 1 of the current semi-final series against first-place Seaforth with another shutout, but the Centenaires came back to win Game 2 in overtime by a 4-3 count.

Tavistock jumped out to a 2-0 lead at home Sunday on goals from Tyler Reid and Drew Gerth, but Seaforth took a 3-2 lead 12 and a half minutes into the third period. Reid potted his second of the game to force the extra period but former Stratford Culliton Jared Nash scored the game-winner just over 16 minutes into overtime.

Masters stopped all 30 shots he faced as the Royals earned a 4-0 road victory in Game 1 on Saturday to earn his fourth shutout in six playoff games. Erik Robichaud scored twice in the first period, which would be all the offence Tavistock needed. Reid and Patrick Vulgan added third-period insurance markers.

“I would say that I’ve certainly had other streaks in my career where I’ve played very well, but there have been great efforts in front of me, and I’ve been getting the bounces too,” said Masters.

“Our team defence has been great, limiting scoring chances, not giving up tap-ins, and we’ve committed to team defence. I think the playoffs bring out the best in all of us. It creates a different brand of hockey, and we’ve shown that it’s a brand that we enjoy playing.”

He added the entire team has bought into the right way to playoff hockey.

“They’ve had playoff success before and understand the formula to win at this time of year.”

The Gazette still hasn’t been able to find out if Masters’ streak is any kind of playoff record, but the 30-year-old Kitchener native said it’s not on his mind.

“Honestly, I tried not to think about it too much. In the playoffs, we’re just focused on putting in 60-minute efforts and playing hard right to the end. At this time of the year, it’s 100 per cent about team success and the individual stuff goes on the back burner.”

He added his experience in Tavistock has been a memorable one.

“The organization and the volunteers have been great. I can sense the town is really getting behind this team, and we’re looking forward to seeing the support grow every weekend!”

Head coach Tyson Zehr said despite his team’s first loss of the season, there’s no time to hang their heads.

“It was a tight game and honestly could have gone either way. There are definitely a few areas we need to clean up, but there’s no overreaction here. It’s playoff hockey. One bounce can change a game.”

He added that the entire team, from the management to the coaching staff and down to the players, will be ready for the weekend. 

“I’m not concerned at all. We’ve got a veteran group that’s been through this before. They all understand that we weren't going to win 16 straight games. If anything, a game like that fuels them.” 

Game 3 is set for Saturday, March 6, in Seaforth at 7:30 p.m., with Game 4 on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in Tavistock.