ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Blanked by Gladiators, 2-0

Published on October 30, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (3-3-1-07, 2nd Atlantic Division), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, were defeated by the Gwinnett Gladiators (4-2-1-09, 2nd South Division), 2-0, at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Gwinnett goaltender Jeff Jakaitis, who handed the Royals their thirtieth shutout against in team history, spoiled the Royals' ceremony to retire Head Coach Larry Courville's number 22 in this game that was re-scheduled from Saturday night due to power outages caused by inclement weather.

Royals' goaltender Joe Palmer (2-2-0-0, 29/31) put together a strong effort, which included several big stops early in the third period when it was still a one-goal game, in a losing cause for the Royals. The Gladiators' Jakaitis looked as if he was feeling it-and he didn't give the Royals many second bites at the apple. Reading's power play was held off the board for the third time in seven games (0-4). Gwinnett only got one chance with the man advantage (0-1) against Reading, who went into the game the least penalized team in the league.

Gwinnett struck for what proved to be the game winner 18:00 minutes into the first period, when Reading coughed one up in the middle of the ice, and the Gladiators' Andy Brandt shot from above the hash-marks. The puck appeared to be headed wide of the net, but angled off forward Nikita Kashirsky and into the net for Kashirsky's third of the season.

The Royals outshot the Gladiators 13-8 in the second period, but were unable to break through. In the third, Gwinnett had the better of the chances early on; but Reading was able to turn the tide to a certain degree as the result of three power play chances down the stretch. At the conclusion of the second of those opportunities, however, the Royals got caught up ice and Corey Fienhage, who had just come out of the penalty box, sprang Andy Brandt for a breakaway. Brandt hit pay dirt with a low, hard snap shot at the 16:02 mark of the third to add some insurance.

Reading got one more chance with the man advantage, and with the goaltender pulled and just over a 1:30 left in regulation, appeared to broken through on a shot out of the right circle by defenseman Marvin Degon. But the referee waived the goal off due to goaltender interference and, from that point forward, the Royals' fate was sealed.

The Royals hit the road for five straight starting next Friday (November 4, 2011 @ 7:35 pm) in Greenville, South Carolina, against the Greenville Road Warriors. The game night broadcast will start at 7:05 pm with the Red Robin Gourmet Burger Pre-Game Warm-up Show on ESPN Radio 1240 am in Reading. Streaming audio is available free of charge courtesy of America One through the Royals' website, www.royalshockey.com. As with all Royals road games, next Friday's contest in Greenville will be televised in Berks County on BCTV courtesy of Boscov's Travel and the Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

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