One Minute Spurt in the Third Period Helps Nailers Down Reading, 3-1
April 8, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release
The Reading Royals, coming off their wild card victory, moved on to take on the Wheeling Nailers in game one of a best of five Northern Division semifinal clash. Reading was 0-2-3 in Wes Banco Arena in Wheeling during the regular season and 1-4-4 overall against the Nailers. Wheeling struck for two third period goals just over a minute apart to take a 1-0 series edge on Reading. For the second straight playoff game the Royals struck first.
Jamie O'Leary notched his first goal of the post-season at 3:28 of the opening stanza to put Reading on top 1-0. Chris Lynch assisted on the O'Leary marker. Reading closed the first period with a 1-0 lead and a 12-7 edge in shots. In the second period, Wheeling would even the score at one as JF Dufour batted a puck out of the air from his waste in front of the Royal net.
Bogdan Rudenko and JC Ruid were credited with assists on the goal. Wheeling fired 12 shots on Royals goaltender Cody Rudkowsky, while Tyler Mackay stopped all 11 Reading shots he faced. In the third, the Nailers got goals from Steve Crampton and Jake Ortmeyer to take a 3-1 lead.
The Royals couldn't overcome that deficit on the road losing by two goals. With the win, Wheeling takes a one game to none lead on Reading in the best of five series. Game two faces off in Wheeling on Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
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