ECHL Reading Royals

Nailers Knock Off Royals, 3-2

Published on December 30, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (18-12-1-239, 1st East Division), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, were defeated by the Wheeling Nailers, 3-2, at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. This game marked only the second time that the Royals have lost in regulation after scoring the game's first goal (11-2-1-2); and the second time the team has lost a game decided by one goal in regulation (12-2-1-2). Goaltender Matt Dalton (Loss, 9-7-0-1; 23/26) sustained his second consecutive loss; while Wheeling's Brad Thiessen (6-3-0; 30/32) made a number of quality stops in a poised and well-positioned effort to pick up the win in his first career start against Reading. Reading was unable to capitalize on either of the two power play chances the team had (0-2). Wheeling scored the game winner on their only power play chance of the game (1-1).

Reading got on the board 9:29 into the first after a wild scramble in and around the Wheeling net. Ben McLeod fed Jimmy Fraser at the top of the crease, but his first effort was rejected by a sprawling Theissen. Danick Bouchard took a whack at the rebound, but hit the left pipe and Fraser was then able to get enough of the second rebound to punch it through for his first goal as a pro. Wheeling tied the game at the 13:43 mark of the first when T.J. Fox ripped a rocket from the right point that glanced off a Reading defender and ended up beating Dalton low to the short side. The Nailers took the lead with only 6.7 seconds left in the first period. In this one, the wild scramble was around the Royals' net. Jordan Fox took control behind the goal and no one picked him up as he walked out on the left side of the net. He then turned and wheeled a low wrist shot just inside the right pipe for his ninth of the year.

Wheeling got what proved to be the game winner twelve seconds into their only power play chance of the night at the 9:47 mark of the second. Thomas Beauregard took control behind the Reading net and slid a pass to the right side, where a waiting T.J. Fox forced it home for his second of the night and tenth of the year. Reading pulled within a goal 1:47 into the third period, when Gavin Morgan swept in to steal the puck from a Wheeling defender behind the Nailers' net. Morgan slipped a pass to Olivier Labelle low in the left circle. Labelle misfired on his first effort, but was able to regroup and send one towards the goal that deflected off the skate of a Wheeling defender and ended up in the low right corner of the net. The Royals pressed down the stretch in an effort to get the equalizer, but were unable to break through the Nailer defense or Thiessen, as the Royals dropped successive regulation losses at the Sovereign Center for the first time this year (8-5-0-1).

The Royals kick off 2010 on Saturday night (January 2, 2010 @ 7:35 pm) when the team travels to First Arena in Elmira, New York to take on the Elmira Jackals. The Royals game night broadcast on the Royals Radio Network presented by Transmissions by Arbogast will kick off with the pre-game warm-up show at 7:05 pm.

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ECHL Stories from December 30, 2009


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