Dayton takes final match up with Reading in 3-2 win

March 25, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Dayton Bombers News Release


Dayton, OH- Mike Berry would lead the Defending American Conference Champion Dayton Bombers to an exciting 3-2 victory over North Division rival Reading Royals with a pair of assists and a first star honor in front of 2,804 Tuesday night at the Nutter Center.

Squaring off for the tenth and final time this regular season, the Bombers and Royals took a little time sizing each other up in the first period. With the recent recall of goaltender Jeremy Duchesne by the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, Rejean Beauchemin had the lone responsibility between the pipes, staring down Reading netminder Tyler Sims in Sim's first professional start. Both netminders faced quality chances, but neither team would be able to break the scoring seal in the first twenty minutes. Reading out shot Dayton 14-10 in the first.

Both teams started the second period with added intensity, and it wouldn't take long for Dayton to break the scoreless seal as Scott Kelman notched his 10th goal of the season at the 8:59 mark assisted by recently reacquired forward Peter Pohl. Reading capitalized on a scurry in front of Beauchemin to tie the game at 1-1 just :36 seconds later, giving Joe Zappala his 17th goal in a Royals sweater. Dayton would look to offensive leadership to regain the lead at the 11:16 mark, courtesy of a blistering slap shot from Bombers and ECHL leading scorer Matt Beaudoin putting the Bombers up 2-1 after forty minutes. The goal, Beaudoin's team-leading 38th was assisted by Mike Berry and Greg Labenski. Reading once again out shot Dayton in the period 11-8 for a two period total of 25-18 Royals.

Dayton's Corey LeClair wasted no time picking up right where the Bombers left off, scoring the eventual game-winner just :36 in off a pass from Mike Berry and Jim Henkemeyer to take a 3-1 early lead. Reading wasn't quite done yet, as Dany Roussin scored his 22nd goal as a Royal to cut the Bomber lead to one, but would be unable to close the gap as time expired. Both teams would post 14 shots on goal in the third for a game total of 39-32 Reading, with Rejean Beauchemin earning his 16th win between the pipes for Dayton.

With the win, Dayton evens its record at 28-28-5-5 for 66 points and now just one point behind Johnstown for fourth place in the North Division.

Looking ahead, the Bombers play host to the Wheeling Nailers in a make-up game on Wednesday night at 7pm. Tickets are still available by calling the Bombers at 775-4747, and Wednesday features $1 Hot Dog night. Fans can tune into the game's broadcast online at echl.com and daytonbombers.com, and can watch the live telecast at b2livetv.com with Bombers broadcaster JT Szabo on the call.



ECHL Stories from March 25, 2008


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