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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Advance To North Division Finals

April 21, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Elmira, NY - The Reading Royals of the ECHL won the North Division Semi-Final match-up against the Elmira Jackals with a 5-4 double-overtime victory at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. With this win, Reading took the series four games to two and advanced to the North Division Finals against the Cincinnati Cyclones. Tonight's win, which went 12:09 into the second overtime before Kevin Saurette scored his first goal of the playoff series to seal the win, marked the third overtime victory of the series for Reading. In all four games won by the Royals in the first round series against Elmira, Reading had to come from behind, tonight trailing by as many as two goals before getting a third period goal to tie things and get to overtime. Goaltender Danny Taylor (4-2; 44/48) picked up the win with a poised effort in the pressure-cooker of overtime hockey; while Joel Martin (2-1-3; 45/50) took the loss, despite having an exceptionally solid series against the Royals.

As with all six games in this series, Elmira struck first in this one-this time 5:13 into the game when Benoit Doucet was able to corral a loose puck that slid through Danny Taylor after a shot from the left circle by Bobby Robins. Doucet found the puck behind Taylor and jammed it in for his third goal of the series. A minute later, Chris Blight tied the game at one, when Charlie Kronschnabel threw one on net from the right half-wall. Martin made the stop, but the rebound fell to the top of the crease, where Blight took control and back-handed the puck home for his second goal of the series. Thirteen seconds later, the Jackals regained the lead at 2-1 when Jim McKenzie picked off a d-to-d pass at the Royals' blue line, broke in on Taylor, and ripped a blast short-side for his first of the playoff series.

Elmira took a 3-1 lead 1:47 into the second when Scott May worked a give-and-go into the offensive end with defenseman Elgin Reid, who carried deep on the left wing side and threw a cross-ice feed to a hard-charging Luke Fulghum, who redirected over top of Taylor for his third goal of the series. Reading cut the Jackals lead to 3-2 6:19 into the second period while the teams were playing four-on-four. Blight sprang Brock Hooton from the defensive zone, and Hooton charged into Elmira's end. P.J. Atherton joined Hooton on the rush, and Hooton found him with a brilliant cross-ice feed, which Atherton ripped behind Martin for his second goal of the series. Reading tied the game at three 9:57 into the period, when Charlie Kronschnabel crashed the Jackals' goal just as Blight slid the puck to the top of the crease. Kronschnabel was able to chip a puck that pin-balled through the maze of players in front of the net to bag his third goal of the series.

The Jackals regained the lead at 4-3 with a power play goal with just 13 seconds remaining in the second period. Pierre-Luc Faubert sent a puck off the left half-wall that Fulghum, who had excellent inside position at the right side of the Royals' crease, was able to jam in for his second of the night and fourth of the series. Reading tied the game 6:55 into the third, when Kronschnabel fed Mike Salekin in the mid-slot. Salekin ripped one that went through Martin's legs and into the net for his first goal of the series. The two teams traded chances for the next forty-five minutes of hockey-through the remaining time in regulation, the first overtime and deep into the second OT. At the 12:09 mark of that second OT, after the Royals won an offensive zone face-off, Rob LaLonde threw a puck from the left point that was stopped short at the top of the crease. A wild scramble ensued, during which Kevin Saurette was able to chip it home for his first goal of the series. With this win, Reading advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2005, when the Royals beat the Toledo Storm in the first round only to be eliminated by the Trenton Titans, who went on to win the Kelly Cup Championship, in the second.

The Royals face the Cincinnati Cyclones in Game One of the North Division Finals on Thursday, April 24 (7:05 pm) at the Sovereign Center. The game night broadcast on Thursday will begin at 6:35 pm with the pre-game warm-up show on ESPN Radio 1240 am in Ephrata, as well as on the internet through the Royals' website, www.royalshockey.com. Streaming video is available on a pay per view basis through the B2 Networks.

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