ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Come Back Effort Falls Short In Home Opener

October 25, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - For the second consecutive game, the Reading Royals (1-2-0 = 2) of the ECHL scored three third period goals; but unlike Saturday in Trenton, that was not enough tonight for the Royals to fashion a come-back against the Johnstown Chiefs (3-2-0=6), who won the 2008-09 Royals' home opener, 6-4. The Royals gave up four second period goals-three while the Chiefs were on the power play and one while Johnstown was short-handed-to dig a hole from which they could not climb out. A goal by Reading's Jeff Corey with 33.8 seconds left in the game made it a one-goal game in the waning moments; but an empty netter by the Chiefs' Randy Rowe iced the home crowd's hope for a dramatic come-back. Goaltender James Reimer (1-1-0; 11/16; 39:55), who suffered his first loss as a pro, was pulled in favor of Danny Taylor (no decision; 5/5; 19:21; 1 eng) for the third period. Johnstown's Sebastian Dahm (1-0-0; 20/23) won the first ECHL game of his career.

For the third consecutive game this year, the opposition bagged the first goal off the Royals. This time it was Chris Mueller who scored 7:24 into the game to give the Chiefs a 1-0 lead. Petr Pohl, who registered four assists on the night, walked out of the right corner and fed Mueller, who was planted on the doorstep and slipped it through Reimer's leg for his third of the season. Reading tied the game 0:24 into the second period with the team's first power play goal of the year. With the Royals skating with a five-on-three advantage, Shawn Snider fired a snap shot from the top of the right circle. Dahm kicked that one out with the left pad; but Tyler Doig was right there for the put back and his first goal of the season.

Johnstown got a power play of their own 3:16 later when defenseman Ray Macias' one-timer fluttered over top of Reimer to give the Chiefs a 2-1 lead. Johnstown went up by two with a short-handed goal at the 10:58 mark of the second. Mark McCutcheon walked into the zone and fired a low snap shot that beat Reimer glove side for McCutcheon's third of the year. 1:13 after that, another power play goal for the Chiefs made it 4-1. Jon Landry's perimeter shot appeared to hit Reimer in the upper body, but somehow slipped through for Landry's second of the season. The Chiefs finished off the second with their third power play goal of the game with just 58 seconds remaining in the period. On this one, it appeared that the Royals were somewhat careless with the puck at the defensive blue line, giving the Chiefs' Randy Rowe an opportunity to create a turnover. As three Chiefs converged on the Royals' net, Mueller ended up with the puck and took a shot that appeared to strike Pohls' stick and then Rowe in the body and then the back of the net to make it 5-1.

The Royals then went to work in the third. Kirk MacDonald scored his first goal as a Royal in his first game with the team 7:41 into the period. Brock Hooton created a turnover at the offensive blue line, and Doig took possession and slipped a pass to MacDonald, who was in tight at the top of the crease; but was still able to back-hand the puck up over Dahm to make it 5-2, Johstown. Reading cut the gap to two with the team's second power play goal of the night. This one came at the 11:43 of the third on a one-timer by Steve Ward from deep in the left circle. Reading continued to press and drew within one (5-4) with 33.8 seconds left (and the goaltender pulled and the sixth attacker out) when Matt Herneisen's pass out of the left corner found Jeff Corey in the right circle. Corey ripped a rocket behind Dahm to give the faithful at the Sovereign Center hope. But the team couldn't create the necessary pressure in the waning moments, and Rowe picked up an empty netter with 0.5 seconds left to ice it for the Chiefs.

Tomorrow, the Royals face the Augusta Lynx, who make their first visit to Sovereign Center in Reading for the first time since 2004, (Sunday, October 26). Game time is 5:05 pm and will be broadcasted on the Royals' Radio Network presented by Transmissions by Arbogast (WRAW 1340 am in Reading; and WLAN 1390 am in Lancaster). The pre-game show presented by the Works at Wyomissing will kick off at 4:35 pm. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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ECHL Stories from October 25, 2008


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