ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Dropped By Chiefs, 4-2

Published on November 30, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (10-8-1-122, 1st East Division), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, were defeated by the Johnstown Chiefs, 4-2, at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The loss, which was the fourth straight defeat for the Royals at the hands of the Chiefs, gave Johnstown three wins over the Royals in the past five days. Goaltender Matt Dalton (3-4-0-0; 24/28) fell victim to several shaky defensive shifts for the Royals; while Kris Mayotte (5-5-2-0; 41/43) made a number of spectacular stops to pick up his third win this year against Reading. The Royals scored the team's second goal while playing with the man advantage (1-3). Reading's penalty killers kept the Chiefs' power play off the board (0-2).

As was the case in all three games played against the Chiefs this week, the Royals got the better of the early chances, but it was Johnstown who struck first. In fact, the Chiefs struck for the first three in this one-all within a span of 2:19 in the mid-point of the first period. The first came 9:12 into the period when Ryan Menei dropped a saucer from low on the left wing side to the right side of the Royals' goal, where an unguarded Troy Schwab slashed a one-timer for his fifth of the year. 1:55 after that, defenseman Russ Sinkewich fired a high snap shot from just inside the blue line in the middle of the ice that was deflected in a downward direction by Dan Collins and skipped between the legs of Dalton for Collins' fourth of the year. The Royals pleas that it was struck with a high stick before going in fell on deaf ears. Twenty-four seconds after that, Johnstown stretched the lead to three when another defensive miscue left Menei wide open and all alone at the right side of Reading's net for a feed from the left side. Menei tapped in for his third of the year.

Reading began the effort to climb back in late in the first. A strong forecheck by Andrew Sarauer forced a turnover deep in the offensive end; and Robert Slaney took control low in the left circle. Slaney attacked from there and tried to jam it in on Mayotte, who responded with the right pad. The rebound fell to the left side of the crease, however, where Greg Scott jammed it in for his first pro goal with only 1:11 left in the period. The Royals made a game of it 5:39 into the second with a power play goal. Jared Ross threw a perfect cross-ice pass from high on the left side to Ben Gordon planted at the right half-wall. Gordon ripped a one-timer between the legs of Mayotte for his team leading tenth of the year. However, the Chiefs took the air out of the Royals come back effort, when defenseman Greg Gallagher fired a quick snap shot from the high slot that beat Dalton high blocker side with only 2:06 remaining in the second.

Despite outshooting the Chiefs 36-21 through the first two periods, the Royals found themselves trailing by two as they entered the third. During the final twenty minutes, Reading was unable to muster the energy necessary to mount a comeback, getting only seven shots, as the team fell to 6-3-0-1 in the first ten games at the Sovereign Center this season. Nine of the next eleven games for the Royals are on the road, starting on Friday night (December 4 @ 7:00 pm) at Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, New Jersey. Friday's game day radio broadcast on the Royals Radio Network presented by Transmissions by Arbogast kicks off at 6:30 pm.

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ECHL Stories from November 30, 2009


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