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Reading Royals

Reading Dropped By Devils, 4-1

November 15, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (4-9-0 = 8; 6th North Division) of the ECHL were trapped in a familiar nightmare, falling behind early and failing to generate the offensive chances necessary to pull off a comeback in a 4-1 loss to the Trenton Devils. The Devils scored 2:08 into the game and held a 3-0 lead entering the third period before the Royals solved Trenton goaltender, Charlie Effinger (win, 1-2-0; 34/35) who won his first start of the year for the Devils. Royals' goaltender Danny Taylor (loss, 2-8-0; 47/50, l eng) was pelted with fifty shots and could only do so much to the keep the Devil attack at bay. The Royals, who have scored just once in their last 30 power play chances, were blanked in three opportunities with the man advantage; while the Devils struck for one power play goal in seven chances with the extra man.

Shortly after Royals' newcomer Luciano Aquino was stoned by Effinger on a point blank chance in his first shift with the team-and Kevin Harvey and Gord Burnett went toe-to-toe in a legitimate pro tilt-the Devils struck pay dirt. The Royals gained possession on a face-off in the defensive zone, but were unable to clear as Trenton defenseman Robert Page kept right point and threw a wrister towards the top of the crease where Jeff Prough was planted wide open and all alone for the deft deflection behind Taylor to register his third goal of the year 2:08 into the game.

The two goaltenders traded stops until the 15:45 mark of the second period, when the Devils stretched their lead to 2-0. Tyler Burton won a battle behind the Royals' goal and walked out to the left side of the net, where he turned and wheeled, beating Taylor with a wrister along the ice on the short-side. Trenton extended the lead 3-0 with just 56 seconds remaining in the second on a power play goal by Brett Pilkington. Just as the Royals were changing penalty killers, Ryan Gunderson fired a long pass from his own end to Pilkington at the offensive blue line. Pilkington slipped behind the Royals' defense and beat Taylor with a wrist shot along the ice for his first goal of the season.

Reading got on the board early in the third, when Pat Wellar threw a long, high pass out of Reading's defensive end to the offensive blue line, where Shawn Snider was waiting. Snider jumped into the air, took the pass down with his glove and somehow stayed onside as he dished on the left wing side to Kevin Harvey. Harvey fired a shot that appeared to deflect off a Trenton defender and beat Effinger high to the glove side. The Royals pressed, but the Devils held fast to their defensive principles and bagged an empty netter (by Matt Radoslovich) to dispatch of any hope for a Reading comeback.

The Royals take on the Cincinnati Cyclones tomorrow, November 16, at 5:05 pm. The first 1500 fans twenty-one years of age or older will receive a Greg Hogeboom mini-bobblehead courtesy of All-Star Distributing. Tomorrow's game will be broadcast live on the Royals Radio Network Presented by Transmissions by Arbogast (True Oldies WRAW 1340 am in Reading; and The Ticket WLAN 1390 am in Lancaster), as well as on the internet through the Royals website. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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