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ECHL Reading Royals

Monarchs Come from Behind to Beat Royals, 3-2

March 3, 2017 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (loss, 32-21-1-267) of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, were defeated by the Manchester Monarchs (win, 31-16-6-472), 3-2, at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania.

In the front end of a two game set between Reading and Manchester, the Royals scored first and held two leads but were unable to hold off the Monarchs who racked up their fourth come-from-behind win over the year against Reading. Manchester took the lead with a pair of goals in the latter stages in the second period, including a snap shot by defenseman David Kolomatis from the top of the right circle with just 7.1 seconds remaining in the middle frame which proved to be the game winner. From that point forward, the Royals created a number of quality chances-as they did throughout the game-but could not find the equalizer on goaltender Jack Flinn.

The loss, which ran the Royals overall record to 1-6-1-0 against the Monarchs with two games to go in the season series, dropped Reading back to eleven games over .500, keeping the team lodged in fourth place in the North Division.

Reading struck first 15:44 into the first when Jesper Pettersson ripped a low bullet off the right half-wall that Flinn kicked out with the right pad. The rebound shot right back up the gut to the low slot where Ryan Penny came charging through to get just enough of the puck to punch it over the goal line and become the first Royal to reach the twenty goal plateau this season.

Manchester tied the game at one 9:48 into the second period on a seemingly harmless play. Kevin Morris threw a long-range wrister towards the Reading net that went in-and-out of the catching glove of goaltender Martin Ouellette. The rebound fell outside the reach of Ouellette, so he lunged at the puck and attempted to sweep it away with his goalie stick. However, Ouellette missed on his swipe and the puck slid to the left side of the crease, where the only player close to it-Manchester's Quentin Shore-had all sorts of time to settle and snap the puck into yawning cage for his seventeenth of the year.

The Royals re-took the lead on the team's second power play chance of the game, when Mike Pereira dug the puck off the right half wall, cut through the circle, and drilled a hot rivet that buzzed by Flinn for his fourteenth of the year 13:59 into the second.

Manchester re-tied the game on another quirky goal. Kevin Morris took a long arcing flip pass from the defensive zone by Justin Agosta on the blade of his stick in full stride at the offensive blue line. Morris settled and ripped a snapper on Ouellette, who fought off the shot; but the rebound fluttered up in the air and landed on Ouellette's back, where the hard-charging Morris was able to swipe the puck off Ouellette's back in mid-air, pushing it into the net for his thirteenth of the year with just 2:55 remaining in the second.

The Monarchs followed that up by bagging what proved to be the game winner with just 7.1 seconds remaining in the second period. Shortly after the Royals had created a late-period surge of offensive opportunities, Joey Diamond was able to track the puck deep into Reading's defensive zone. Diamond slid the puck to Gasper Kopitar in the left corner. Kopiter in turn fired a diagonal-up pass through the low slot to the top of the right circle where a waiting David Kolomatis settled and picked his spot-high stick side-for a hot laser that hit the mark for his fifth of the year.

The Royals had their chances to tie the game in the third; but couldn't find the equalizer, as the team's late game frenzy fell short again, dropping the team's record to 11-9-1-2 in one-goal decisions.

NEXT UP FOR THE ROYALS SATURDAY, March 4, 2017 v Manchester Monarchs Santander Arena - Reading, PA (7:00 pm)

Autism Awareness Night Wall of Honor Induction of Ryan Cruthers Ryan Cruthers Bobblehead Giveaway Courtesy of Reading Health System On-Line Specialty Jersey Auction to Benefit Local Autism Causes Jersey Auction Details Available: bidpal.net/goyellow

SUNDAY, March 5, 2017 v Norfolk Admirals Santander Arena - Reading, PA (5:00 pm)

Battle of the Badges XII Reading Police - Fire v Allentown Police - Fire (at 1:30 pm) James Reimer Mini-Locker Room Giveaway Courtesy of Bethany Children's Home First 1000 Kids 16 & Younger

ROYALS BROADCAST

AUDIO: iHeartRadio - Rumba 1340 in Reading Deibler Dental In Arena Broadcast: 99.3 fm Inside Santander Arena TELEVISION: Royals' Road Games are televised locally in Berks County, Pennsylvania on BCTV, which Can Found at Comcast Reading Cable Channel 15, Service Electric Cable Channel 19, Comcast Southern Berks Channel 965 Courtesy of Boscov's Travel and Apple Vacations

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