PORTLAND, ME – April 16, 2023 – For the second consecutive postseason, the Maine Mariners will take on the Reading Royals in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The North Division Semifinals best-of-seven series begins on Friday, April 21st in Reading, PA, with the Royals as the #2 seed and the Mariners as the #3.
Home ice advantage was decided last night with the Royals defeating Newfoundland to clinch the #2 seed. As a result, games one and two will be played in Reading on Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22. The middle games of the series: three, four, and five (if necessary) will be held at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland from April 24-April 26. If the series requires a six or seventh game, it will shift back to Reading on Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30. The full series breakdown is below:
| Game # | Date | Time | Arena | City |
| Game 1 | Fri, Apr. 21 | 7:00 PM | Santander Arena | Reading, PA |
| Game 2 | Sat, Apr. 22 | 7:00 PM | Santander Arena | Reading, PA |
| Game 3 | Mon, Apr. 24 | 7:00 PM | Cross Insurance Arena | Portland, ME |
| Game 4 | Tues, Apr. 25 | 7:00 PM | Cross Insurance Arena | Portland, ME |
| Game 5 (if nec.) | Weds, Apr. 26 | 7:00 PM | Cross Insurance Arena | Portland, ME |
| Game 6 (if nec.) | Sat, Apr. 29 | 7:00 PM | Santander Arena | Reading, PA |
| Game 7 (if nec.) | Sun, Apr. 30 | 3:00 PM | Santander Arena | Reading, PA |
In last season’s first round series, the top-seeded Royals defeated the #4 Mariners in six games. The home team won the first four contests, before Reading won the pivotal Game 5 in Portland and then closed out the series back on home ice. The two teams met six times during the 2022-23 regular season, with the Royals winning four. The last time the teams faced off was on January 16th at Reading, a 4-2 Mariners victory.
In the #1 vs. #4 matchup in the North Division, the Newfoundland Growlers await the winner of Sunday’s game between the Worcester Railers and Adirondack Thunder, which will decide the final playoff spot.
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