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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Blank Chiefs, 4-0

March 20, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Elmira, NY - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (33-27-1-4=71, 2nd 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, defeated the Johnstown Chiefs (16-38-7-4=43, 4th East Division), 4-0, at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Goaltender Matt Dalton made all thirty-seven saves he was called upon to make, as the Royals built a four goal lead through two periods and kept the Chiefs at bay down the stretch to pick up a critical two points in the standings. With the win, the Royals took the season series (6-5-0-0) against the Chiefs and with that take final possession of the Keystone Cup in the final game in team history against the Chiefs. Dalton (win, 19-19-0-3; 37/37) had to make a number of quality stops to register his first pro shutout in his forty-first game of the season with Reading. Former Royal John Murray (loss, 5-22-4-0; 32/34) made several good stops during the night, as well, but suffered his second loss in two starts against the Royals this year. Reading got a pair on the power play goals (2-6), while the Royals' penalty kill was perfect on the night (0-7).

Reading struck 12:05 into the game when Rob Kwiet started a rush from the defensive zone with a nice reverse from below the goal line that freed Scott Fletcher for a quick pass to Olivier Labelle in the neutral zone. Labelle then sprang Andrew Sarauer into the offensive zone, who charged by everyone down the right wing side deep into the right circle where he ripped a hot, high shot across Murray's body for his twenty-second of the year. The Royals went up 2-0 while playing with the man advantage at the 14:52 mark of the first when Ben Gordon fired a hard slap shot from just inside the blue line that beat Murray high to the glove side for his twenty-third of the year.

Reading went up by three 8:46 into the second with the team's second power play goal of the night. Aaron Brocklehurst and Ben Gordon worked to keep the puck alive in the offensive end, freeing Ryan Cruthers in the left circle for a clean shot. Cruthers ripped a snap shot high glove side for his nineteenth of the year. Reading got what proved to be the last goal of the game with 5:40 remaining in the second period when the puck popped high into the air at the offensive blue line. Sarauer reached up and settled with the glove, charged through two defenders and went forehand-backhand-five hole for his second of the night and twenty-third of the season.

The Chiefs didn't wilt in the third, creating a number of quality scoring chances, but the Royals and Dalton held them off to pick up their twentieth home win of the year (20-12-0-3). The Royals hit the road for six straight starting Wednesday night (March 24, 2010 @ 7:05) at The Arena in Gwinnett when team will face-off against the Gwinnett Gladiators. The Royals game night broadcast on the Royals Radio Network presented by Transmissions by Arbogast will begin at 6:35 pm.

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