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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Clinch Playoff Spot With Win Over Jackals, 4-3

March 12, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (34-20-6=74, 2nd North Division) of the ECHL clinched a berth in the Kelly Cup Playoffs with a 4-3 win over the Elmira Jackals at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. For the fourth straight game, the Royals fell behind, but bounced back in this one to snap a three game winless streak and regain possession of second place in the North Division. Vladimir Dravecky broke 3-3 tie when he scored his fourth goal in seven games to give Reading a one-goal third period lead, which the team held down the stretch. Terry Denike (6-4-3; 21/24) picked up the bounce back win; while Joel Martin (29/33) took the loss for the Jackals.

Elmira struck first 3:29 into the game when Pierre Luc Faubert scored his twenty-fourth goal of the season. After a gray-zone turnover, Elmira's Benoit Doucet took off on a rush up ice. Doucet carried mid-way into the offensive end on the left side and forced a pass towards the center of the ice, where Faubert was able to get off a quick snap shot that beat Denike five-hole. Elmira took a 2-0 lead 57 seconds into the second period with a short-handed goal by Bobby Robbins. With the Royals on the power play and the puck in the offensive end, the Jackals sent a clearing attempt towards the right point, where Scott Parse tried to keep the play alive. Instead Robbins forced the puck behind Parse and took off to the races. Robbins did a good job of maintaining possession and position as he slipped deep into the offensive zone. He then fired a shot high glove side on Denike for his thirteenth goal of the season.

The Royals then started to climb back into the game 2:57 into the second after an extended sequence of offensive opportunities (and a great keep at the right point by defenseman Steven Later) resulted in a loose puck on the left wall. Shawn Germain stepped up and fired a 'seeing-eye' wrist shot from that point that eluded Martin on the short-side for Germain's third goal of the season. Reading tied the game at two 10:40 into the second period when Later fed Kevin Saurette in the high slot. Saurette got off a hard slap shot that appeared to deflect off a sliding Jackal, who was attempting to block the shot, and beat Martin for Saurette's tenth goal of the year. The Royals took the team's first lead of the game 1:05 later, when Brian Boulay fired a shot from the right point that Martin stopped with his left pad. The rebound kicked to the right side of the Jackals' goal, where Brock Hooton took control and fired it over Martin for his twentieth goal of the year.

Elmira re-tied the game at three with a power play goal with just 41 seconds remaining in the second. Brett Pilkington took control behind the Royals' goal and walked out on the right side. He forced a shot on goal from in tight that slipped through Denike and slid to the left side of the net, where Robbins stepped up and punched it in for his second of the night and fourteenth of the year. Reading picked up what proved to be the game winner 5:48 into the third period. Ned Lukacevic stole off the fore-check deep in the offensive end and fed Charlie Kronschnabel in the right circle. Kronschnabel fired a snap shot on goal that hit Martin in the upper body. The rebound fell above the crease on the right side where Dravecky was able to force a backhander that slid through Martin for his fourth goal of the year. Reading held fast for the final 14 minutes, as the team took a solid defensive approach and Denike was equally solid in net, as Reading registered the team's nineteenth win of the year at home (19-7-3).

Reading and Elmira go at it again on Friday night (7:35 pm) at First Arena in Elmira, New York. The game night broadcast that night will begin at 6:05 pm with the pre-game warm-up show on ESPN Radio 1240 am in Ephrata, as well as on the internet through the Royals' website, www.royalshockey.com. Streaming video is available on a pay per view basis through the B2 Networks.

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