Lions Fall to Royals in the First of Three Games
Published on April 1, 2022 under ECHL (ECHL)
Trois-Rivieres Lions News Release
The Lions faced off against the best team in the North Division in the form of the Reading Royals this evening. It marked the start of a three-game series which sees the teams playing on back-to-back-to back days at Colisée Vidéotron. Head coach Éric Bélanger and his squad were looking to extend their winning ways against the Royals, having garnered seven out of a possible eight points in their previous four games.
The visitors started things off in their favour by scoring the game's first goal. Positioned in the slot, Frank DiChiara was able to beat Lions' goaltender Arturs Silov with a shot that went through Silov's legs. But that didn't prevent the Lions from applying pressure of their own, and the team capitalized when Royals' netminder Logan Flodell left his goal unattended. Brenden Locke took a pinpoint pass from teammate Anthony Nellis and was able to easily find the back of the Royals' net. But with the score now 1-1, the Royals were able to retake the lead in the middle of the period when Thomas Ebbing scored. The teams ended 20 minutes of play with the Royals leading 2-1.
The Lions were buzzing around the Reading net throughout the second period, but Royals' netminder Flodell didn't crack under the pressure. And following an excellent scoring chance by the Lions, a quick Royals' counter-attack engineered by Jacob Pritchard ended up with Kenny Hausinger scoring to give Reading a two-goal advantage. The second period ended with the Royals holding a 3-1 lead.
Reading was able to build upon their lead in the third period. Brayden Low scored off a pass from Frank DiChiara, meaning the task at hand for the Lions was getting increasingly more difficult. But the Lions' never-say-die attitude was in full view as the team came oh-so-close to reducing the deficit, notably during a power play when Cédric Montminy hit the post to Flodell's left. But even with that close call, the Royals were never in serious danger of losing their lead and wound up collecting the two points in a 5-1 victory.
The Lions will be seeking revenge on Saturday afternoon when the teams will meet for the second time this weekend. Puck drop is at 3:00 p.m.
ECHL Stories from April 1, 2022
- Thunder Loses on Friday in Tulsa, 5-3 - Wichita Thunder
- Rush Fall in Utah, 5-2 - Rapid City Rush
- Royals Earn Commanding Victory over Lions in Series Opener - Reading Royals
- Indy Kicks off Weekend with 4-3 OT Win in Wheeling - Indy Fuel
- Americans Nip KC 3-1 - Allen Americans
- Oilers Down Thunder 5-3 - Tulsa Oilers
- O'Neil's Heroics Give Rays Third Straight Overtime Victory - South Carolina Stingrays
- McInnis Scores to Give Solar Bears Critical Point in 4-3 OT Loss - Orlando Solar Bears
- Harris Scores Twice as Icemen Rally for 4-2 Win - Jacksonville Icemen
- Gerads Ties Game Late, Rabbits Fall 4-3 in Shootout to Gladiators - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Bennett Scores Again, But Iowa Doubled up at Cincinnati, 4-2 - Iowa Heartlanders
- Cyclones Start April with 4-2 Win - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Fornaris Leads Atlanta in Playoff-Clinching Victory - Atlanta Gladiators
- Walleye Use Three-Goal First Period to Skate Past Komets, 5-4 - Toledo Walleye
- Steelheads Shut out Everblades 3-0 - Florida Everblades
- Lions Fall to Royals in the First of Three Games - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Kupsky Halts 29 Shots in 3-0 Blanking of Everblades - Idaho Steelheads
- Nailers Start Strong, But Indy Rallies for Bonus Point - Wheeling Nailers
- Mariners Crush Thunder 7-0, Move Closer to Playoff Spot - Maine Mariners
- Railers Lose First of Road Three-In-Three to Growlers - Worcester Railers HC
- Growlers Roll Past Railers 4-0 - Newfoundland Growlers
- Mariners Add Reid Stefanson from Umass Lowell - Maine Mariners
- D'Astous Returns to Grizzlies, Kuzmeski Released - Utah Grizzlies
- ECHL Transactions - April 1 - ECHL
- Grizzlies Gameday: D'Astous Returns for Friday Night Battle - Utah Grizzlies
- Game Preview: Solar Bears at South Carolina Stingrays: April 1, 2022 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Lions on the Prowl for a Third-Straight Win - Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Royals Open Three-Game Series with the Lions on Road - Reading Royals
- Game Notes: at Utah - Rapid City Rush
- Fort Wayne's Graber Named Warrior Hockey/ECHL Player of the Month - ECHL
- Fort Wayne's Harvey Named Warrior Hockey/ECHL Goaltender of the Month - ECHL
- Wichita Opens Weekend Tonight at Tulsa - Wichita Thunder
- Gladiators Kick off Greenville Series on Road - Atlanta Gladiators
- Everblades Trade for Forward Darik Angeli - Florida Everblades
- Daniel Brickley Returns to Norfolk - Norfolk Admirals
- Two-Game Road Trip Starts Tonight in KC - Allen Americans
- Bennett Wins ECHL Rookie of the Month for 2nd Straight Month - Iowa Heartlanders
- Iowa's Bennett Named Howies Hockey Tape/ECHL Rookie of the Month - ECHL
- Everblades Look to Filet Steelheads Again - Florida Everblades
- Morning Tea: Swamp Rabbits VS Gladiators - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
