When trailing 2-0 in a best-of-seven series, Game 3 is decisive. To go down 3-0 puts any team in a position no one wants to be in – facing odds that are rarely, if ever, surmountable.

The Florida Everblades played as if Saturday night’s Game 3 of the ECHL’s American Conference semifinals playoff game was decisive, except they ended up losing to the Reading Royals 2-1 at Germain Arena.

“It’s a fine line between winning and losing in the playoffs,” said Blades coach Malcolm Cameron dejectedly, “A mistake here and a mistake there can cost you the game.”

Despite falling behind 1-0 in the first period, the Blades employed physicality and hard checking to counter the Royals’ style, hoping to wear them down as the game progressed.

Still down 1-0 heading into the final period, Florida’s hard checking seemed to be paying off as Reading looked to be losing a step.

With just over six minutes remaining Everblades forward Kevin Baker looked to force overtime when he tied the game 1-1, after beating Royal goaltender Matt Dalton (36 saves).

“I thought, finally, we broke the wall,” Cameron said of Baker’s tying goal. “Usually when you get a goal like that, another is close behind.”

Baker’s goal lit a brief fire under the Everblades, who went back on the attack only to be turned away by a post and Reading’s defensive effort. That defense paid off for the Royals three minutes later after Ryan Cruthers scored the game-winning goal beating Blades netminder Chris Beckford-Tseu (39 saves).

“We had a ton of chances to score (in the third period) It certainly wasn’t from a lack of effort tonight that we (couldn’t) score again,” Cameron said.

With the loss, the Everblades fall behind to the Royals 3-0, making every game from here on a must-win situation for the Blades.

“Fortunately, I’m the only coach in the EHCL to ever come back from a 3-0 series deficit and force a Game 7,” Cameron said.

That was in 2003 when Cameron was the head coach of the Cincinnati Cylones, and he lost the Game 7.

“That game ended with the puck resting on the goal line,” he recalled.

Blades fans have yet to see if Cameron can repeat the feat, or do better.

They will find out Tuesday night with Game 4 against the Royals at Germain Arena.