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ECHL Reading Royals

Nailers End Season with 2-0 Blanking of Royals

April 9, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Wheeling, WV – The Wheeling Nailers shut out the Royals for the third time this season. Of the five Royal blankings this season, three have come at the hands of their North Division rival. Joe Exter stopped 32 shots to record his fourth shutout of the season. Reading finished the season 6-4-0 against Wheeling in the ten-game regular season set. Six of the ten games were decided in shutouts with each team posting three.

Wheeling added to their one-goal advantage in the second period outscoring Reading 1-0. Great work by the Nailers coupled with Reading's ineffectiveness in clearing the puck out of their defensive zone led to the second goal of the game. Stefan Brannare scored his second goal of the season after tipping in a Mike Sgroi rebound to give the Nailers at 2-0 edge. Brendon Hodge also was credited with a helper on the goal. The Nailers out shot the Royals 15-8 in the period. The Nailers had just one power play in the second period, but were unsuccessful. Through two periods, Reading did not get a power-play opportunity.

Wheeling struck first in the contest, just 4:21 into the contest. Off a faceoff in the Royals zone, Evgeny Lazarev was the recipient of a pass from Alex Rouleau who zipped it into the high slot. Lazarev didn't hesitate one-timing the puck past Cody Rudkowsky to score the period's only goal Reading out shot Wheeling 15 to 8 in the first period. Only one penalty per side as Reading's Tom Harrison dropped the gloves with defenseman Randy Perry.

Reading opens the Kelly Cup Playoffs at home on Thursday, April 14 in the Sovereign Center at 7:05 p.m. Reading as the #1 seed and winners of the North Division regular season title will host the #4 seed Toledo. The two clubs meet on Thursday and Saturday, April 16 in the Sovereign Center and Sunday in the Sports Arena in Toledo, Ohio. Royals hockey can be found locally on ESPN radio, 1240AM and at the Royals web site www.royalshockey.com courtesy of Sportsjuice and B2 Networks.

The first 3,000 fans on Thursday receive a Royals team poster courtesy of the Reading Eagle Press. On Saturday when the Royals and Storm meet for game two of the North Division semifinals, Rieck's Printing is handing out Kelly Cup rally cards to the first 3,000 fans through the gates. Both games face off at 7:05 p.m.

Royals Kelly Cup playoff tickets are now sale at the Sovereign Center Box Office or by calling Ticketmaster at 215-336-2000. The Sovereign Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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