ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Come Back For Shootout Win In Cincy, 3-2

November 5, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Cincinnati, OH - For the first time since Game Seven of the North Division Finals last May, the Reading Royals (3-4-0 = 6; t-5th North Division) of the ECHL returned to US Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the Royals pulled off a come-from-behind shoot-out win over the defending Kelly Cup Champion Cincinnati Cyclones, 3-2. The last time the Royals were here, the Cyclones dashed the Royals playoff hopes, and Cincinnati appeared poised to do the same tonight with three consecutive first period five-on-three power plays, but the Royals held the Cyclones to just one goal in that sequence and were able to climb back into the game thanks in part to solid goaltending from James Reimer (win, 2-1-0; 30/32; 5/5 in the shootout). Cincinnati's Loic Lacasse (1-1-1; 30/32; 4/5 in the shootout) was equally good, but took the shootout loss due the one shot that found the back of the net-by Reading's Brock Hooton-in the final frame. The Cyclones were 1-8 with the man advantage, while the Royals were blanked in five chances on the power play.

The Royals found themselves in a hole just over five minutes into the game, when back-to-back penalties by Pat Wellar and Mac Faulkner gave the Cyclones 40 seconds of five-on-three. Reading killed that sequence, but twenty-three seconds later, while still playing a man short, Wellar was assessed with another minor penalty to send the Royals down two skaters again-this time for 0:57. The Royals didn't make it all the way through it this time. Thirty-six seconds into the Cyclones' second five-on-three, Barrett Eghoetz ripped a beautiful cross-ice back-door pass across and through the Royals crease to a waiting Jimmy Kilpatrick, who blasted a one-timer behind Reimer for his second goal of the season 7:16 into the first. The Royals demonstrably erupted with displeasure at that goal, which earned them another penalty-this one for unsportsmanlike conduct-which gave the Cyclones another five-on-three. This one was for 1:24 in length; but this time, the Royals dodged the bullet by killing both ends of the power play.

Then, about mid-way into the first, with the Royals working on their first power play chance of the game, Cincinnati defender Steve Makway picked off an errant pass at the defensive blue line and sent Mark Van Guilder on a short-handed break. Van Guilder didn't waste that chance, ripping a high, hard snap shot that beat Reimer over the left shoulder and just under the bar 10:55 into the first to make it 2-0 Cincinnati.

The Royals re-grouped and got on the board at the 16:38 mark of the second period, while the teams were playing four aside. Forward Kirk MacDonald tracked down a loose puck deep in the Cincinnati defensive zone and eluded the Cyclones surrounding him as he skated in the left corner. MacDonald then slipped a drop pass to the mid-slot where a charging Mike Salekin ripped a rocket through Lacasse to make it 2-1, Cyclones. Reading tied the game 9:02 into the third, when a Scott Langdon pass sprang MacDonald into the Cincinnati offensive zone. MacDonald carried deep on the right side and fired a hard, low snap shot across the body of Lacasse to the far left side of the net for his second goal of the year to tie it 2-2.

The teams traded chances through the final ten minutes of regulation and the five minutes of overtime; but neither goaltender would give any quarter, and it took the shootout to resolve it. The Royals used Shawn Snider, Brock Hooton, Tyler Doig and Kirk MacDonald; and only Hooton (shooting second) was able to solve Lacasse. The Cyclones sent Thomas Beauregard, Olivier Latendresse, Mark Van Guilder, Steve Makway, and Michael Cohen; but Reimer rejected all five shooters, which included a brilliant and dramatic glove stop on Cohen to clinch the win.

Reading returns to US Bank Arena in Cincinnati to take on the Cyclones again tomorrow night (Wednesday, November 5 @ 7:30 pm). The game will be also broadcast live 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 7:00 pm. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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