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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals and Jackals Series Tied At Two

April 17, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals and Elmira Jackals of the ECHL are in a dead heat after four games in the best-of-seven North Division Semi-Final series after the 5-2 win by the Jackals at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Despite generating a number of quality scoring chances, the Royals found themselves trailing by two as they entered the third, and when things opened up at that point, the Jackals took advantage of their opportunities to bag three third period goals. Goaltender Danny Taylor (2-2; 24/29) sustained the loss; while Joel Martin (2-2; 35/37) continued his strong play to keep the Royals at bay at the critical moments.

For the fourth straight game, Elmira struck first 1:38 into the game when the Royals' defense got caught out of position just as Benoit Doucet took position on the left half wall. Doucet stepped into the left circle and between a couple of Reading defenders, where he slipped a pass to Chaz Johnson, who attacked across of the top of the crease and was able to finish at the far side of the net as Taylor was unable to stay with him on lateral move. The Royals out-shot the Jackals throughout the first period 11 to 6, but Reading was unable to solve Martin. That trend continued in the second, and the Jackals were able to dig Reading's hole a bit deeper with a five-on-three power play goal late in the period. While playing with the two-skater advantage, the Jackals worked the puck to Scott May, who was planted low in the left circle. May slid a pass to the low slot where Pierre-Luc Faubert got off a quick one-timer that beat Taylor back against the grain to the left side of the net.

In the third, things started on a down note for the Royals with an early penalty against. The Royals penalty killers knocked that one off; but the Jackals appeared to feed off the momentum of the power play and pressed the Royals hard. Shortly thereafter, Elmira created a neutral zone turnover and quickly gained entry into the Royals end. Bobby Robins took a shot from low in the left circle that Taylor stopped at the left side of the net; however, he lost sight of the puck, and before he could find it, Doucet took control behind Reading's goal, where he went for the quick wrap-around jam and the 3-0 lead. The Royals cut the lead to 3-1 at the 7:23 mark of the third, when Kevin Saurette dumped the puck into the offensive end. The puck angled off the left wall and slid into "no-man's land" deep in the left circle, where Charlie Kronschnabel beat everyone to the puck, cut to the net and went top shelf glove side on Martin to break up the shutout.

The euphoria in the Sovereign Center was short-lived, as 30 seconds later, the Jackals created another scoring chance after a turnover by the Royals in the neutral zone. Elmira's Brett Pilkington ended up with the puck behind the Royals' net, and as Reading's defenders focused on him, Pilkington slid a pass to the low right circle where Maxime Boisclair stepped up and ripped the puck behind Taylor to make it 4-1. Elmira took a four goal lead at the 12:01 mark of the third on a transition rush, when Johnson carried into the offensive end and threw a nice pass off the right half wall to the top of the crease, where a crashing Luke Fulghum angled the puck over a sprawling Taylor. Reading picked up a power play goal with 4:41 remaining in regulation when Vladmir Dravecky took a low snap shot from the mid-slot. Martin kicked out that shot with the left pad, but the rebound went to the stick of Dany Roussin, who fired it home for his third goal of the playoff series. By that time, however, the Jackals had done what was required to essentially reduce this series to a best-of-three.

The Royals and Jackals head back to First Arena in Elmira, New York for Game Five of the North Division Semi-Final series on Saturday, April 19, at 7:35 pm. The game night broadcast on Saturday will begin at 7:05 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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