ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Break Through in K-Zoo, 3-2

December 18, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Kalamazoo, MI ‚¬" The Reading Royals of the ECHL (1st Atlantic Division, 17-9-0-034), 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 Kalamazoo Wings (3rd North Division, 11-12-1-225), 3-2, at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This game, which was the final regular season match-up between the Reading and Kalamazoo, marked the first regular season win ever for the Royals at Wings Stadium (1-2-1-1). The Royals ran the team's road record to 9-4-0-0 with this win, which was the team's eighth come-from-behind win of the year. Goaltender Matt Dalton (win, 9-6-0-0, 36/38) earned the second star with his ninth win of the year. Kalamazoo's Ryan Nie (loss, 9-7-1-2, 39/42) sustained the loss. Reading was unable to capitalize on a five minute major power play mid-way into the second period, but picked up a PPG with just 4.4 seconds left in the second to take the lead (1-6). Kalamazoo's first goal was scored just as the front end of a five-on-three expired (1-3), and their second goal was scored while playing a man short.

Although neither team scored in the first, the Royals took back-to-back late period penalties that resulted in 1:41 of five-on-three for Kalamazoo, 1:20 of which carried over into the second period. Kalamazoo attacked at the start of the second and created several good looks before finally breaking through just as the front end of the five-on-three expired. On the goal, Kalamazoo pressed hard around the Royals' net. Andrew Fournier and Trent Daavetilla kept the play alive, and the puck fell to a sharp angle at the right side of the goal. Kory Karlander fired towards what appeared to be a wide open right side of the net, but Dalton dove across and just got a piece of the puck, but not enough to keep it out as it fluttered into the goal for Karlander's twelfth of the year.

Reading tied the game at one 7:43 into the second when John Scrymgeour won a battle on the left half wall in the offensive zone and fed Ryan Donald at the left point. Donald fired through a screen set by Rob Slaney, and the puck appeared to hit Nie in the armpit and deflect down, trickling across the goal line for Donald's second of the season. The Royals took the lead with 4.4 seconds left in the second period with a power play goal. Kalamazoo gained possession deep on the right wing side in the defensive zone and tried to clear. But the puck accidentally hit the body of one of their players and bounded to the low slot, where Ryan Cruthers stepped in swiped it home for his ninth of the year.

In the third, Kalamazoo pressed hard in the early going and created a number of scoring opportunities. But when defenseman Steven Tarasuk activated off the right point on one of those chances, Reading took advantage of a loose puck and open ice; and Cruthers and Ben Gordon took off on a two-on-one. Cruthers carried down the right wing side and unleashed a rocket that beat Nie high to the glove side for what proved to be the game winner. Kalamazoo kept pressing and broke through with a short-handed goal with 1:18 remaining, when Sam Ftorek got a clean look from the low slot and hit the cross-bar. The rebound fell to the left side of the crease, where Tarasuk was waiting for the easy put back. However, the Royals held off the charging K-Wings down the stretch to pick up the team's eleventh one-goal win of the season (11-4-0-0).

The Royals continue the team's five game road trip tomorrow (Sunday, December 19, 2010 @ 7:30 pm) against the Wheeling Nailers at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia. The Royals game night broadcast will kick off with the pre-game warm-up show presented by The Works at Wyomissing on the Royals Broadcast Network (WRAW 1340 am in Reading, www.1340wraw.com) at 7:00 pm. You can also catch all of the Royals away games this season on Royals TV exclusively on BCTV courtesy of Boscov's Travel, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Season tickets for the Royals' 2010-11 season are currently available. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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