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ECHL Reading Royals

Reading wins two straight to put #1 Wheeling on the brink

April 12, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


The Reading Royals opened their Northern Division semifinal series with the Wheeling Nailers this week. The series began Thursday in Wes Banco Arena in Wheeling. The Nailers scored a pair of third period goals 70-seconds apart to win 3-1 and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. The two teams met the next night for game two. Reading took a two-goal lead twice and held on to win 3-2 in regulation. Reading hosted game three in the Sovereign Center on Saturday, the first home playoff game in Royals' club history. The Royals delighted their home fans to a 4-3 win. The victory gave Reading a two games to one lead over the Nailers in the series. Reading has a chance to advance to the Northern Division Finals this Tuesday, April 13 as they face the Nailers for game four in the Sovereign Center. If the Nailers and Royals meet in a deciding game five, that contest will be played in Wes Banco Arena in Wheeling on Wednesday, April 14.

Reading vs. Wheeling (Kelly Cup Playoffs – Northern Division Semifinals – best-of-five series) (Royals lead series 2 games to 1)

Thursday, April 8 @ Wheeling Wes Banco Arena 3-1L
Friday, April 9 @ Wheeling Wes Banco Arena 3-2W
Saturday, April 10 @ Reading Sovereign Center 4-3W
Tuesday, April 13 @ Reading Sovereign Center 7:05 PM
Wednesday, April 14 @ Wheeling * Wes Banco Arena 7:00 PM

* (if applicable)

LAST WEEK

Monday, April 5 @ Johnstown War Memorial (wild card game) 7:00 PM

GAME NOTES: David Masse (2G, PP, GW) and Lars Pettersen (2a) converted on two first period goals to help Reading beat Johnstown in the Kelly Cup wild card game in Johnstown. For the Royals, it was their first win in the War Memorial in five tries this season. Cody Rudkowsky stopped 32 of 33 shots to give the Royals their first playoff win in club history. With the win, the Royals move on to battle the Wheeling Nailers in a best of five series.

Thursday, April 8 @ Wheeling Wes Banco Arena (Game #1) 7:00 PM

GAME NOTES: The Wheeling Nailers opened up this series with two quick third period goals to claim a 1-0 edge. Steve Crampton and Jake Ortmeyer popped in two goals 70-seconds apart to skate to a 3-1 win. Tyler MacKay stopped 30 shots to give the Nailers their first post-season win in six seasons.

Friday, April 9 @ Wheeling Wes Banco Arena (Game #2) 7:30 PM

GAME NOTES: Reading built two, two-goal advantages and hung on to win 3-2 in game two of this series. David Masse and Judd Medak scored on the power play, while Mat Snesrud offered an even strength tally which turned out to be the game winner. Kent Davyduke posted three assists in the Royals' victory. Cody Rudkowsky made 24 stops in the Reading net to post his second win in Kelly Cup playoff action.

Saturday, April 10 vs. Wheeling Sovereign Center (Game #3) 7:05 PM

GAME NOTES: Reading won their second straight one-goal decision, stopping Wheeling in the first-ever playoff game in the Sovereign Center in Reading, 4-3. David Masse and Ian Turner posted a goal and two assists, while Mat Snesrud and Judd Medak scored a goal and an assist to lead the Royals to their second win in this series. Reading held Wheeling to just 22 shots in the contest.

THIS WEEK

Tuesday, April 13 vs. Wheeling Sovereign Center (Game #4) 7:05 PM

GAME NOTES: The Royals and Nailers meet for the fourth time in the best-of-five Northern Division semifinals series. Reading has a chance to close out the Nailers, who posted an 8-1-0 record in the regular season versus the Royals. Both teams have posted a total of eight goals in this post-season series.

Wednesday, April 14 @ Wheeling Wes Banco Arena (Game #5) 7:00 PM

GAME NOTES: Reading and Wheeling will travel back to Wheeling, West Virginia for a decisive game five if Wheeling wins on Tuesday. The Royals have a 1-1-0 mark in Wes Banco Arena in the post-season.

ECHL PLAYOFF PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE:
#10 David Masse 4GP TEAM RECORD: 2-1-0 STATS: 4-2-6 (+2) – 4 goals (3pp) and six points leads team
The Montreal, Quebec native has paced the Royals during the 2003-04 Kelly Cup playoffs thus far. Masse scored both goals on Monday's wild card game against Johnstown Monday. After being held scoreless Thursday, Masse rebounded with a power play tally Friday in Reading's 3-2 win. Saturday, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound rookie tallied his first multiple point effort of the playoffs, tallying a goal and two assists. Masse has scored two game-winners in four games in the post-season.
DAVID MASSE 6'0" 190LBS HOMETOWN: MONTREAL, PQ DOB: 12-2-82
LAST YEAR: QUEBEC (QMJHL) AMATEUR CLUB: QUEBEC (QMJHL)

ECHL PLAYOFF GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE:
#30 Cody Rudkowsky 4GP RECORD: 3-1-1 GAA: 2.25 SPCT: .920% TEAM RECORD: 3-1-1
The Royals "rock" in net stonewalled the opposition to post three victories in four tries this week. Rudkowsky was spectacular in Reading's 2-1 win over Johnstown on Monday, stopping 32 shots. The Willingdon, Alberta native picked up two wins versus Wheeling and dropped one decision. He has made 61 saves against the Nailers in this series.
CODY RUDKOWSKY 6'1" 215LBS HOMETOWN: WILLINGDON, AB DOB: 7-21-78
LAST YEAR: TRENTON (ECHL)/ WORCESTER (AHL)/ ST. LOUIS (NHL) AMATEUR CLUB: SEATTLE (WHL)

TRANSACTIONS:
4/5/2004 Add DOUG NOLAN (D) assigned from Manchester (AHL)
4/5/2004 Delete TOMAS SLOVAK (D) placed on 7-day IR
4/5/2004 Delete NICK LEES (F) placed on 7-day IR
4/5/2004 Add PAT NOECKER (G) emergency back-up goaltender
4/5/2004 Delete TOM LAWSON (D) recalled to Colorado (NHL)
4/8/2004 Add STEVEN BELANGER (G) emergency back-up goaltender
4/9/2004 Add NICK LEES (F) activated off IR
4/9/2004 Delete DOUG MACIVER (D) placed on 7-day IR

TICKETS AND INFORMATION: The Sovereign Center Box Office is open from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Sovereign Center. Individual tickets can be purchased at the Sovereign Center Box Office or at any Boscov's TicketMaster location. To order tickets by phone, call 215-336-2000 or 717-260-2000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com to purchase playoff tickets online. To book a group to a Royals home Kelly Cup playoff game call 610-898-7825.

ROYALS ON THE AIRWAVES: All Reading Royals playoff action, home and away, are webcast live on the Royals website at www.royalshockey.com courtesy of Sportsjuice and tape delayed on ESPN Radio, 1240AM. Join the voice of the Royals, John Curtis for all the play-by-play action. The pre-game show comes your way approximately 30 minutes prior to the drop of the puck.

ROYALS ITINERARY:
All times subject to change
Monday 9:30-11:00 a.m. practice at the Body Zone
Tuesday 10:00-10:30 a.m. morning skate; Royals vs. Wheeling 7:05 p.m. (Kelly Cup Playoffs)
Wednesday Royals @ Wheeling 7:00 p.m. (Game #5 – if applicable)
Thursday TBA
Friday TBA
Saturday TBA
Sunday TBA

Series 'B' Wheeling vs. Reading
Game Winning Goal
Thursday, April 8 Reading 1 at Wheeling 3 2,967 Steve Crampton
Friday, April 9 Reading 3 at Wheeling 2 3,422 Mat Snesrud
Saturday, April 10 Wheeling 3 at Reading 4 5,053 David Masse
Tuesday, April 13 Wheeling at Reading
Wednesday, April 14 Reading at Wheeling (if necessary) (Reading leads series 2 games to 1) 11,442

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics

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