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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Can't Hold Off Florida, 4-3

December 6, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (5-17-1= 11; 7th North Division) of the ECHL jumped out to a three goal lead against the Florida Everblades but were unable to hold on as Florida rang off four consecutive goals in a span of 6:13 in the second period to beat Reading, 4-3, at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Royals have lost eight games in a row and are winless in the team's last nine (0-8-1). Goaltender James Reimer (loss, 2-2-0; 47/51) stopped forty-seven shots in his first start since November 7; while Florida's Anton Khudobin (10-1-1); 25/28) won his tenth game of the year. The Royals were blanked in five chances with the man advantage; Florida scored one power play goal in five chances.

Reading ignited the ‘Teddy Bear Toss" with just 13.2 seconds remaining in the first period, when Brock Hooton chipped a puck off the right wing half-wall to the top of the crease, where a spinning Chris Stevens, who was picked up Thursday from the Phoenix Roadrunners, swiped it home for his first goal of the year in his first game ever in the Sovereign Center. The Royals went up by two 4:47 into the second, when Peder Skinner, also picked up from the Roadrunners on Thursday, stole as the Everblades attempted to clear their zone; and then made a brilliant move between the legs of an Everblades defender to give himself space in the left circle. Skinner then slid a cross ice pass to Tyler Doig, who settled and fired from the right circle for his third goal in two games (and fourth of the season). Thirty-nine seconds later, the Royals took a 3-0 lead when Dinos Stamoulis fired a shot from the right point that was deflected by Stevens. The puck then pinballed off an Everblade defender and bounced into the air, where Stevens swiped it in for his second of the night and season.

The Everblades responded to the 3-0 deficit by ringing off four goals in a span of 6:13 starting at the 9:09 mark of the second, when a failed clear by the Royals resulted in a shot from the left point by Florida defenseman Aaron Brocklehurst. Yannick Tifu, who was battling for space at the top of the crease, re-directed the puck behind Reimer to get the Everblades on the board. 1:27 later, Kevin Baker stole in the neutral zone, walked deep into the left circle and snapped a laser that beat Reimer short-side high to draw the Everblades within one (3-2). Florida tied it at the 15:04 mark of the second with a power play goal by Ernie Hartlieb. A mad scramble around the Royals' goal ended when defenseman Peter Metcalf fired one from the right point that Reimer stopped; however, the rebound slid to the left side of the goal, where Hartlieb bagged the put back to tie the game at three.

Eighteen seconds later (at the 15:22 mark of the second period), Florida got what proved to be the game winner when Brad Herauf beat the Royals defenders to a loose puck behind Readings' goal and then got two whacks at wrap around effort-getting enough on the second attempt to flutter the puck over Reimer and give Florida their first lead of the game. From that point forward, Florida played a simple and smart defensive oriented game that prevented the Royals from creating the quantity and quality of chances need to get the equalizer. For the Royals, this marked the team's fifth straight home loss, establishing a new team record in that regard.

The Royals get right back at it tomorrow afternoon (Sunday, December 7 @ 5:05) when the Elmira Jackals visit the Sovereign Center. Sunday's game will be broadcast live on the Royals Radio Network Presented by Transmissions by Arbogast (True Oldies WRAW 1340 am in Reading; and The Ticket WLAN 1390 am in Lancaster), as well as on the internet via webcast hosted by Sportsjuice.com, which can be accessed through the Royals website. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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