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 Reading Royals

Reading Royals Weekly

December 1, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


NOTES OF THE WEEK

1. The Royals had a different resoluHon in each of the three games played this past week-all three of which were played at Santan- der Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania: (i) losing in a shootout to the Elmira Jackals (4-3) on Wednesday; (ii) defeaHng the Greenville Road Warriors in regulaHon (5-2) on Friday; and (iii) geKng soundly defeated by the Road Warriors on Saturday (8-3).

2. The Royals pushed the team's season long unbeaten streak to eight (6-0- 1-1) with the SOL to Elmira on Wednesday and the win over Greenville on Friday; but that streak was snapped with the loss to the Road Warriors on Saturday.

3. Saturday's 8-3 loss to Greenville at Santander Arena also snapped a four game home unbeaten streak (3-0-0-1). The Royals are currently in the mid- dle of the longest home stand in team history, having played the first five games in this ten game sHnt at home (3-1-0-1). This week, the Royals have three games on home ice: (i) Thursday, December 4 (Toledo Walleye); (ii) Saturday, December 6 (South Carolina SHngrays); and (iii) Sunday, Decem- ber 7 (South Carolina).

4. Friday's win over Greenville pushed the Royals into a He for fourth place in the East Division (with the Road Warriors) with twenty points in the standings. That marked the first Hme since October 30 that Reading had climbed within the playoff cut-off line within the Division (top four slots). However, Greenville took back sole possession of fourth place in the East (and pushed the Royals back to fiMh) with their win on Saturday.

5. Wednesday's shootout loss to the Elmira Jackals was the fiMh game of the season between the Royals and the Jackals. AMer win- ning the first two contests this year against the Jackals, the Royals have been defeated in the last three matchups with Elmira-in three different ways (0-1-1-1): regulaHon (10/26), overHme (11/21) and a shootout (11/26).

6. The SOL to the Jackals on Wednesday marked the third Hme in five games played between the two teams that the game had to go beyond regulaHon Hme for resoluHon: (i) 10/24-shootout win for Reading; (ii) 11/21-overHme win for Elmira; and (iii) 11/26-shootout win for the Jackals.

7. Wednesday's shootout with the Jackals marked the fourth Hme in a span of seven games that the Royals ended regulaHon Hme in a He and went to overHme and/or the shootout. Reading won the first two of those games: (i) 11/16 @ Kalamazoo (4 -3, shootout); and (ii) 11/18 @ Toledo (4- 3, shootout); but lost the last two (both to Elmira): (i) 11/21 @ Elmira (3-2, over- Hme); and (ii) 11/26 v Elmira (4-3, shootout).

8. Overall, in games that have gone be- yond regulaHon Hme so far this season, the Royals have compiled a record of 3-2: (i) 0-1 in overHme; and (ii) 3-1 in the shootout.

9. Wednesday's shootout marked the first Hme in four trips to the skills compeHHon this year that the Royals failed to win (3-1). In that this most recent skills compeHHon against Elmira, Reading's shooters went 1-4; while Elmira's shooters scored on three of their four aPempts.

10. Overall this season, Reading's shooters in the shootout have gone 7 for 18 which translates into a 38.9% scoring raHo, which is ninth best in the league.

11. The Royals' goaltenders have stopped fourteen of the twenty shots they have faced in the skills compeHHon, which translates into a .700 save percentage (Hed for sixteenth in the league).

12. The Royals held two separate leads in Wednesday's SOL to the Jackals (at 1-0 and 3-2), but were unable to hold those leads and earn the two points with a win. This marked the fourth 'blown lead' game for Reading this season.

13. Reading held a 3-2 entering the third period on Wednesday against the Jackals. Elmira got a third period game-tying goal (5:09 into the period) and went on to capture the win in a shootout. That game marked the eighth Hme this season that Reading has held a lead entering the third period-and the second Hme Reading did not win (6-1-0-1).

14. The Royals scored the game's first goal in Wednesday's SOL to Elmira and Friday's regulaHon win over Greenville. Reading has bagged the FG in nine of the seventeen games played this season and has compiled a record of 6-2-0-1 in those games-which is a .722 win percentage (Hed for nineteenth best in the league in that category).

15. Friday's 5-2 win over Greenville marked the sixth regulaHon win of the year for Reading-and pushed the team's record to a sea- son best four games over .500 at that point (i.e. prior to Saturday's loss to the Road Warriors).

16. Reading gave up a season high eight goals against in Saturday's loss to the Road Warriors. This marked the tenth Hme in team history (in 953 total regular season games) that the Royals have allowed eight or more goals in a single game. (The team record for goals against was set in a 13-2 loss to the CincinnaH Cyclones on December 27, 2002).

17. The Road Warriors bagged five goals in a span of 7:10 of the second period in Saturday's 8-3 loss. That marked the eleventh Hme in the fourteen year history of the team that Reading has given up five or more goals in a single period.

18. Saturday's game marked the third Hme this season that Reading's defense has given up six or more goals against (0-3-0-0).

19. The Royals have allowed a total of 58 goals against, which translates into 3.41 goals against per game, which is twenty-second out of the twenty-eight teams in the ECHL.

20. Friday's marked the fourth Hme this season that Reading has scored five or more goals in a single game (3-1-0-0).

21. Reading has scored a total of 59 goals this season, an average of 3.47 goals per game (eighth best in the league).

22. Reading outshot the opposiHon in two of the three games played this season (and in ten of the seventeen games played this sea- son, 5-3-1-1), including Friday's 5-2 win over Greenville, when the team generated 39 shots. Overall, Reading averages 31.94 shots per game (ninth best in the league).

23. The Royals were outshot in the 8-3 loss to the Road Warriors on Sunday-but only by one shot, 30-29. However, overall, Reading is averaging 31.12 shots against per game, which is twenty-second in the league.

24. Reading's power play came through for a pair of goals (2-5) in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout loss to Elmira, marking the fiMh straight game in which the Royals had scored at least one PPG. It was also the fiMh Hme this season that the power play has come through for mulHple goals in a single game (and the second Hme in a span of three games). AMer being held off the board in Friday's 5-2 win over Greenville (0-4), the Royals power play scored the team's third goal (1-2) in Saturday's 8-3 loss.

25. The Royals power play has scored at least one goal in twelve of the seventeen games played this season. Overall, the PP has gone 18 for 89 with the man advantage, which is a 20.2% scoring raHo (seventh best in the league). Reading's power play is scoring goals at a 22.0% raHo on home ice (11 for 50).

26. Reading's penalty killers knocked off all eight power play chances the opposiHon had this past week, including all four in Satur- day's 8-3 loss. In fact, the Royals' PK has only given up one power play goal against in the last thirty chances with the man advantage over a span of the past nine games (29 kills in 30 chances, which is a 96.7% kill raHo).

27. The Royals' penalty kill has blanked the opposiHon's power play in eight of the past nine games (but only twice in the first eight games of the season). Overall, the PK has been touched up for ten PPGA in 60 chances with the man advantage this year, which is a 83.3% kill raHo (fiMeenth in the league).

28. Although Adam Hughesman was held off the score sheet in the three games played this week, his eighteen points (5g-13a) sHll leads the Royals and places him Hed for thirteenth in the ECHL scoring race. Hughesman's forty-eight shots on goal leads the Royals.

29. Cam Reid picked up an assist on David Marshall's power play goal, which gave Reading a 3-2 lead in Wednesday's 4-3 SOL to Elmira. He also recorded an assist on Pat Mullane's goal (the Royals' second) in Saturday's 8-3 loss. Reid, who has registered at least one point in fourteen of the seventeen games played by the Royals this season. His seventeen points (7g-10a) is Hed for twenHeth in the ECHL scoring race.

30. David Marshall is riding a three game point streak (2g-2a). He scored a goal in Wednesday's SOL against Elmira, as well as Friday's 5-2 win over Greenville. Wednesday's goal was his third power play goal of the year (second most on the team to Adam Comrie, who has five); and Marshall's goal on Friday proved to be the game winner-his team leading third GWG of the season. (Reading has only had six regulaHon victories and Marshall has bagged the game winner in three of those). Friday's goal was Marshall's seventh of the season, which Hes him for the team lead with Cam Reid and Pat Mullane. Marshall also picked up an assist in Friday's game to record his fiMh mulH-point game of the season, which is Hed with Adam Hughesman for the team lead.

31. Pat Mullane has seven points in his last six games (3g-4a). He picked up a pair of assists in Friday's 5-2 win (including one on the game winner by David Marshall) to record his second mulH-point game of the season. Mullane also scored the Royals' second goal (his seventh of the season) in the team's 8-3 loss on Saturday.

He was one of only two players to play even or bePer in Sat- urday night's game when all eight Greenville goals were scored at even strength (i.e. fourteen of Reading's fiMeen skaters finished that game win a 'minus' raHng). Overall, Mul- lane is playing to a plus-five (+5) this season, which is second on the team to Maxim Lamarche (+7).

32. Olivier Labelle scored the Royals' second goal (and his fiMh of the year) in Friday's 5-2 win over Greenville. That was also his seventy-sixth career goal as a Royal in his 172nd game with the team. He now has 143 points as a Royal (76g- 67a), which is one point behind Ben Gordon, who currently sits third on the team's all-Hme scoring list.

33. Ryan Cruthers recorded his tenth assist of the year (Hed for second most on the team with Mike Marcou and Cam Reid) and his twelMh point in Wednesday's shootout loss. Cruthers, who is the team's career all-Hme leading scorer (73g- 162a=235pts in 228 games), was the lone Royal to score in the shootout in that game. This season Cruthers is two for four in the skills compeHHon. His shootout shot on Wednesday was his twenHeth shootout aPempt as a Royal-which is more than any other player in team history. Overall, he is 7 for 20 in the skills compleHon (35.0% scoring raHo).

34. Although Mike Marcou's team long seven game assist streak was snapped in Friday's 5-2 win, he promptly picked up a helper in Saturday's 8-3 loss-and has now recorded at least one point in nine of the last eleven games for the Royals (1g-8a). Overall, Marcou has recorded twelve points (2g-10a), which is Hed for eighth in scoring amongst defensemen in the league.

35. Adam Comrie has recoded at least one point in three straight games (3g-1a). On Wednesday, he became the third player this year to record a mulH-goal game for the Royals (BreP Flemming and David Marshall were the others). That night, Comrie's goals included scoring the game's first goal-his first FG of the year. Comrie's six total goals leads all defense- men in the league. Two of Comrie's three goals this week were scored while the Royals were playing with the man advantage, giving him five PPGs on the season-which leads the team, as well as all defensemen in the league. His ten total points (6g-4a) is Hed for twelMh amongst d-men in the ECHL.

36. Defensemen Zach Davies also has ten points (2g-8a) in seventeen games this season, which Hes him for twelMh in ECHL defensemen scor- ing race.

37. Sean Wiles snapped an eight game goal scoring drought when he bagged the Royals' fiMh goal in Friday's 5-2 win over Greenville.

Wiles also recorded an assist on the game's first goal (by Kevin Walrod) that night to notch his first mulH-point game of the year. Last season, Wiles had twelve mulH-point games for Reading-but only one of those mulH-point games was recorded before December 28, 2013.

38. Willie Coetzee played his first game for Reading Friday in the 5-2 win over Greenville, during which racked up a three point night (1g-2a) (all of which came in the second period of play). In doing so he become only the fourth player in team history to record at least one goal and at least three points in his first game with the team, joining Brian McCullough (3g-1a), Dale Mitchell (2g-1a), and Jonathan Zion (3g-0a). Coetzee also picked up an assist on the Royals' third goal on Saturday-the power play goal scored by Adam Comrie.

39. Maxim Lamarche was the only player on the Royals to play to a plus (+1) in Sat- urday's 8-3 loss to Greenville. Lamarche leads the Royals in plus-minus, playing to a plus-7 (+7) in thirteen games played.

40. Kevin Walrod scored the game's first goal-and his second goal of the year-on his twenty-sixth birthday (Friday, November 28) in the 5-2 win over Greenville.

41. Brandon Alderson joined the Royals on Friday and picked up a point in each of his first two games with the team, recording an assist in Friday's 5-2 win and scoring the Royals' first goal (to make it 3-1, Greenville) in Saturday's 8-3 loss to the Road Warriors. With his goal on Saturday, Alderson became the seventeenth different player to score a goal with the Royals this season.

42. Playing in his fourth game for the Royals, forward Andrew Johnston picked up his second point with the team (1g-1a) when he registered the lone assist on Brandon Alderson's goal on Saturday.

43. Defenseman Michael Caruso recorded his second assist in ten games played with the team when he picked up the lone helper on the first goal of the game (by Adam Comrie) in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout loss to Elmira.

44. Bryant Molle engaged in his team leading fourth fight of the season (taking on Greenville's Sam Noreau) on Friday. Molle leads the Royals with thirty penalty minutes. Molle has 223 career penalty minutes (ninth most in team history) in 137 games with the team.

45. Goaltender Connor Knapp started all three games for the Royals this week. He was the goaltender of record in two of those games. On Wednesday against Elmira, Knapp allowed three goals on twenty-two shots before being replaced by MarHn OullePe 5:09 into the third period of play with the score Hed at three. (OuellePe was the goaltender of record in the SOL to Elmira.) On Friday, Knapp made twenty-seven saves in Reading's 5-2 win over Greenville. For Knapp, that was his third consecuHve victory in games where he had been the goaltender of record. On Saturday, Knapp played the first two periods and allowed seven goals on twenty three shots before being replaced by Pete Dundovich. That marked the third Hme in his last five starts that a goaltending subsHtu- Hon was made. Knapp has appeared in ten games for Reading this season and has compiled a record of 5-3-0-0 with a 3.44 goals against average and a .889 save percentage.

46. Goaltender MarHn OullePe came on in subsHtuHon of Knapp 5:09 into the third period in Wednesday's SOL to Elmira. He played a total of 19:51 of hockey acHon making all nine saves he was called upon to make-and stopping one of the four shootout aPempts he faced. He came on with the game Hed at three so he was the goaltender of record in the shootout loss, which actually stretched his unbeaten streak to five straight. Wednesday's game marked OullePe's third appearance in a pro shootout-and the first one that he did not win. Overall, he has faced fiMeen shootout aPempts this season and made ten saves (.667 save percentage).

AMer Wednesday's game, OullePe was recalled to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL, where he promptly came on in subsHtu- Hon of goaltender Anthony Stolarz in the Phantoms' game against the Albany Devils on Friday. In that game, which was OuellePe's first appearance in an AHL contest, he made 11 saves on 12 shots in forty minutes of acHon, but was not the goaltender of record.

Overall for the Royals this season, OuellePe has appeared in nine games and compiled a record of 4-3-1-1 with a 2.91 goals against average and a .905 save percentage.

47. The Royals signed goaltender Pete Dundovich as an Emergency Back-Up Goaltender when MarHn OuellePe was recalled to Lehigh Valley last Thursday. Dundovich served as the EBG for the Royals in Friday's win over Greenville-and began the game on Saturday as the team's EBG, as well. However, in between the second and third periods of Saturday's game (with Greenville leading by a score of 7-1), the Royals signed Dundovich to a Standard Player's Contract, and he played third period, stopping six of the seven shots he faced in twenty minutes of acHon in his first ever ECHL appearance.


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