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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Caught from Behind by Express, 3-2

November 23, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (7-8-1-116, 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 Chicago Express (9-5-0-119, t-1st North Division), 3-2, at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Royals fell behind on a first period short-handed goal against, but fought back to take a 2-1 lead by the end of two-only to have the Express pull out a couple of third period goals, including a game winner from Bobby Robins with just 2:21 left in regulation, to extend the Royals' winless streak to a season-long three games (0-2-0-1).

Goaltender Joe Palmer (loss, 4-4-0-1, 44/47) was the hard-luck loser, as he kept the Royals hopes alive in a game in which the Express had as many shots in the third period (19) as the Royals had all game long. Chicago's Rob Nolan (5-4-0-0, 17/19) won his first career start against the Royals. Reading extended a streak of ten consecutive games in which the team has scored a power play goal with a second period go-ahead PPG (1-3). The Royals' PK was also perfect for the third time in the last four games, which included a critical late first period kill during which the Express had 27 seconds of five-on-three.

Reading did not make the most of the team's first power play chance of the night-but Chicago did. 10:02 into the first, a turnover by defenseman Denny Urban at the offensive blue line with the entire power play unit below the puck in the offensive zone allowed Chicago's Chad Johnson to take off on a short-handed breakaway. Johnson didn't waste that chance ripping a hard snap-shot five-hole on Palmer for his fifth of the year.

Despite getting outshot 25-9 through the first 35 minutes of the game, the Royals were able to tie the game 15:56 into the second period, when Rob Shearer fired a perfect cross-ice feed from deep on the left wing side to a waiting Chad Painchaud, who was wide on the right. Painchaud slipped a diagonal-down pass to the left pipe, where a charging Marvin Degon made a skillful swipe to punch the puck into the net for his third of the year.

2:02 after that, the Royals capitalized on the team's third power play chance of the night, when Urban fired a snap shot from the high slot that Matt Schepke deftly deflected through Nolan for Schepke's fifth of the season-and the eighth power play assist of the season for Urban.

In the third, the Express attacked from the get-go, generating 19 shots and the two goals needed to pull off the comeback. The first came 9:57 into the third, when Josh Burrows pinched off the left point preventing the Royals from clearing the zone with a great keep. The puck slid to the left side of the slot, where Chaz Johnson fired a snap shot. Palmer made that save, but the rebound fell out in front of him, and Riley Blair quickly stepped in to stuff it back for his seventh of the year. The game winner came with just 2:21 left in regulation when Bobby Robins blew around Reading defender Dave Cowan in the low left circle, made a power move to the top of the crease, and stuffed it in on Palmer.

The Royals got what they wanted with the goaltender pulled and the sixth attacker on the ice in the waning moments-a point blank look for Schepke. But unfortunately he misfired and the Royals fell to 2-5-0-0 at the Sovereign Center this season, as the team failed to protect a third period lead for the second time in three games.

The Royals will face the Chicago Express at the Sovereign Center again this Friday (November 25, 2011 @ 7:05 pm), when the first 2000 fans 18 years of age and older will receive a lottery ticket courtesy of the Pennsylvania Lottery. There will also be a 'happy hour' in The Corner Restaurant and Lounge on Friday night from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. The game night broadcast will start at 6:30 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.

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