ECHL Reading Royals

I Think I'll Wait For The Digitally Re-Mastered \'Coach's Cut'...

Published on December 18, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


It certainly comes as no surprise that, for many years now, studio executives have employed the strategy of pre-screening movies with 'test audiences' in order to gauge the anticipated success (or perhaps imminent failure) of their impending releases. It seems just as obvious that film companies will often test audience reaction to several different versions of a movie in order to try and identify 'what the people want'. This is, of course, particularly true with respect to test marketing 'alternative endings' which could leave movie goers with anything from a misty eye to a dry mouth. This process has been writ large in the making (and editing and re-editing....) of the 1982 'neo-noir' science fiction cult classic Blade Runner, which has apparently been released in no fewer than seven different versions at various times and places including the original theatrical release, a "directors' cut" and (out in DVD today actually) a 25th Anniversary Final Cut-the only version over which the director himself, Ridley Scott, apparently had complete artistic control. (Now, I don't want to cross any lines here, but if you are searching for that perfect stocking stuffer for a certain special hockey broadcaster in your life......) If all of this sounds rather complicated, convoluted, and confused (or, at a minimum, like a complete marginalization of artistic autonomy), there are times we only wished it would be this simple and straightforward to create alternative endings for certain pro hockey games. Oh sure, we didn't mind the way that Wednesday's 3- 2 win over the Trenton Devils climaxed, i.e. with Charlie Kronschnabel scoring with just 1:39 remaining in the game to break a two-two tie and register his first game winner as a pro. But that third period in Elmira on Friday, now there's one we would have clearly preferred to leave on the cutting room floor. The Royals entered the third in that game with a three goal cushion and a perfect (10-0-0) record in protecting final period leads, when suddenly it felt like the Tyrell Corporation had replaced the Jackals with genetically engineered indestructible 'replicants' bent on wreaking immeasurable havoc on the Royals' defensive zone coverages. Three goals later, the Royals found themselves in overtime, where the Jackals made quick work of the extra point on the line. And, as long as we're in the editing suite deleting scenes, we'd just as soon chop out that one in the third period of Sunday's game when the Devils extracted their own form of cruel revenge by breaking another two-two deadlock with a third period power play goal to send the Royals packing with their first regulation loss in seven games. But alas, in pro hockey you don't get to tell Mr. DeMille when you're ready for your close-up. There simply are no second takes-and no replicants either, only very real human beings searching for team unity in a series memorable moments....

TOP TEN NOTES OF THE WEEK

1. The Royals extended the team's season high win streak to six games with the 3-2 win in Trenton on Wednesday. That win streak was snapped with the overtime loss in Elmira on Friday, and, on Sunday, Reading's seven game unbeaten streak (6-0-1) was snapped with the 3-2 loss to the Trenton Devils. That loss also brought the Royals' four game road winning streak to an end.

2. The Royals scored the game's first goal in the Royals 3-2 in Trenton on Wednesday, as well as the 5-4 overtime loss to the Elmira Jackals on Friday, stretching the team's streak of scoring the game's first goal to six consecutive games. That streak was snapped when the Devils bagged the game's first goal in their 3-2 win over Reading on Sunday. The Royals have compiled a record of 11-1-2 this year when scoring the game's first goal.

3. Ned Lukacevic scored the game's first goal for Reading in the 3-2 win over the Trenton Devils last Wednesday. For Lukacevic, that proved to be his team leading fourth "first goal" of the year and his eighth goal of the season (in 24 games), surpassing his goal total for last season (7 in 53 games). Lukacevic has eight points (2g-6a) in his last seven games.

4. The Royals were outshot 37-26 in the team's 3-2 win in Trenton on Wednesday. That marked the first time that the team had been outshot in twelve consecutive games dating back to November 9 (a 6-2 loss in Wheeling). The Royals were also outshot in Friday's overtime loss to the Jackals and Sunday's loss to the Devils. The Royals have compiled a record of 11-5-1 when they have outshot the opposition and a record of 2-4-1 when they've been outshot. Reading averages 32.96 shots on goal per game (8th), while the team gives up an average of 28.96 shots per game (4th) .

5. Dany Roussin scored a goal in each of the Royals games this week. Roussin also registered five assists over the course of the week, which included a helper on the game winning goal (by Charlie Kronschnabel) in last Wednesday's win. Roussin, who has had three consecutive multi-point games for the Royals, is currently riding a three game goal scoring streak, and he has scored six goals in his last seven games for the Royals.

6. Charlie Kronschnabel registered what proved to be the first game winning goal of his pro career last Wednesday, when he scored with 1:39 remaining in regulation time to break a 2-2 deadlock. The Royals and Devils entered the third period tied at two in both games played this past week. The Royals got the third period game winner (by Kronschnabel) on Wednesday, and the Devils got the GWG in the third on Sunday (a power play goal by Trevor Kell 10:44 into the period). Reading has a record of 3-2-1 when entering the third period tied with the opposition.

7. Brock Hooton scored two goals (including the game's first goal) and picked up an assist in Friday's 5-4 overtime loss in Elmira, marking his first multi-goal performance of the season (and his second three point game). Hooton also assisted on both goals scored by the Royals in Sunday's 3-2 loss in Trenton, which proved to be his third multi-point performance of the season.

8. In Friday's overtime loss in Elmira, the Royals entered the third period leading by a score of 4-1 and gave up three third period goals to end up tied after regulation time. That marked the first time this season that the Royals have failed to hold a lead entering the third. The team's record when it enters the third with a lead is 10-0-1. Friday's game also marked the first time this year that the Royals have scored three (or more) goals and failed to win. The Royals are 14-0-1 in those games.

9. The Royals have scored at least one power play goal in each of the last eight consecutive games. In that time span, Reading has scored 12 power play goals in 43 chances with the man advantage which translates into a 27.9% scoring ratio. Over the course of the season, the Royals have scored 22 PPGs in 147 chances, which is a 15.0% scoring ratio (21st in the league).

10. Reading's penalty kill blanked Trenton in Wednesday's win, marking the sixth time this season that the PK has kept the opponent's PP off the board. In the games on Friday and Sunday, Elmira and Trenton each scored two power play goals (including the game winner on Sunday), bringing the total number of games in which the PK has allowed more than one goal in a game to ten. The Royals penalty killers have allowed 31 PPGA in 153 chances for the opposition (79.9% kill ratio) (16th).

CLOSING NOTES

1. Malcolm MacMillan picked up assists in the first two games this past week, extending his assist and point streak to six games (1g-6a=7pts). That streak came to an end in Sunday's 3-2 loss to Trenton.

2. Defenseman Patrik Hersley registered assists in the first two games the Royals played this week, extending his personal assist (and point) streak to four games (1g-7a=8pts). That streak came to an end on Sunday in Trenton. Hersley has picked up a point in six of his last eight games (1g-10a=11pts).

3. Defenseman P.J. Atherton scored his fourth goal of the season in Elmira on Friday night. That goal was scored while the Royals were playing with a five-onthree skating advantage and was the first power play goal of the season for Atherton.

4.Goaltender Terry Denike started and played all three games for the Royals this past week. Denike stopped 35 of the 37 shots he faced on Wednesday in Trenton to pick up his third consecutive win for Reading. He made 33 stops on 38 shots in the 5-4 overtime loss on Friday; and he stopped 29 of the 32 shots he faced in Sunday's 3-2 loss, which was his first regulation loss of the year with Reading.

5. The five goals scored by the Elmira Jackals on Friday night, marked only the third time this season that the Royals have given up five or more goals in a single game-and the first time since November 9 (a 6-2 loss to the Wheeling Nailers) (and a span of thirteen games) that the team has allowed that many goals against. Over the course of the 26 games played so far this season, the Royals have scored a total of 81 goals for and allowed a total 72 against. The Royals 2.77 team goals against is currently seventh best in the league.

6.Goaltender Danny Taylor is unbeaten in three starts (2-0-1) with the Manchester Monarchs since being recalled from the Royals on December 7. On Sunday, Taylor was not the goaltender of record after substituting for Erik Ersberg in Manchester's 5-1 loss to the Worcester Sharks. In that game, Taylor made 15 stops on 17 shots in 37:50 worth of game time.

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ECHL Stories from December 18, 2007


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