Bombers move into first place with 4-3 win over Royals

March 13, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release


Dayton, OH - The Dayton Bombers came from behind two times in the third period to defeat the Reading Royals 4-3 and extend their streak to nine straight games (7-0-2) without a regulation loss on Tuesday night at the Nutter Center.

Paul Kelly (17) gave the Bombers a 1-0 lead at the 13:29 mark of the first period when he made a beautiful stick handling move to trigger a wrist shot through the legs of Royals starter Yutaka Fukufuji (22 saves Loss). That would be the only goal for either team, allowing the Bombers to take the 1-0 lead into the second period.

Within the first: 20 of the period, Reading received a power play, which would then be followed by another one, giving them a two man advantage. Brett Smith tied the game on that power play at the 1:53 mark by knocking home a rebound off the pads of Bombers starter Terry Denike (21 saves Win). For the second straight period, one goal scored by one team sent the Bombers and Royals into the third period tied at 1-1.

Despite the third period starting slow, the offense of both clubs came alive. Reading took their first lead of the game at the 8:25 mark when Joe Zappala lifted a perfect shot up under the cross bar to give the Royals a 2-1 lead. Exactly: 21 later, Kelly (18) tied the game with his second of the night at the 8:46 mark again beating Fukufuji down low. Brett Smith answered Kelly's goal with his second of the night as well when he got behind the Bombers defense and finished off a breakaway to allow the Royals to retake the lead at 3-2 at the 10:48 mark. Less than two minutes later, the Bombers came back to tie it again. Mike Berry (17) was Johnny on the spot on top of the crease to make it 3-3 at the 12:08 mark. Brent Walton (18) then scored one of the most exciting goals of the season when he batted the puck out of mid air and directed it over the shoulder of Fukufuji and under the cross bar to give the Bombers a 4-3 lead at the 14:44 mark. The Bombers defense and Denike held the Royals to only six shots in the period and held on for the 4-3 home victory.

With the win, the Bombers now move into first place due to their higher winning percentage over the Cyclones. The Bombers are now 31-10-6, giving them a .596 winning percentage, while the Cyclones are 32-22-4 giving them a .586 winning percentage. The Bombers and Royals will meet again this Friday, March 16 at 7:00 p.m. at the Nutter Center.

For ticket information, please contact the Bombers front office at (937) 775-4747 or visit the Bombers Web site at www.daytonbombers.com. Tickets are also available at the Nutter Center box office and any Ticketmaster outlet, or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. All Bombers broadcasts can be heard via the B2 networks on line at www.daytonbombers.com or www.echl.com. Fans can also watch the games for $6 through B2 as well. The Dayton Bombers are the proud "AA" affiliate of the "AAA" Syracuse Crunch of the AHL and the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL.



ECHL Stories from March 13, 2007


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