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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Dropped By Elmira, 6-3

March 14, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Elmira, NY - The Reading Royals (34-21-6=74, 3rd North Division) of the ECHL dropped back into third place in the North Division with a 6-3 loss to the Elmira Jackals at First Arena in Elmira, New York. The Jackals connected for four power play goals, including the game winner which came on a deflection 27 seconds into the third period. Terry Denike (6-5-3; 33/38; 1 eng) suffered the loss; while Ervins Mustukovs (3-1-2; 31/34) beat the Royals for the first time this season.

Elmira struck first 0:57 into the game when Matt Gens fired from the left point. Denike stopped the puck with the blocker but the rebound fell into the danger zone out in front of him. Matt Johnson slipped the loose puck to the top of the crease where Benoit Doucet slipped a back-hander through Denike for his twenty-seventh goal of the year. Reading bounced back with a power play goal 5:52 into the game. Patrick Jarrett took control at the right point and found Joe Zappala low on the right side. Zappala fired a textbook perfect pass through the crease to the back-door where Scott Parse was waiting to put in his third goal of the season. Elmira regained the lead 10:35 into the first with their first power play goal of the game. Pierre-Luc Faubert fed Doucet low in the left circle. Doucet fired a high shot on net and Denike made the stop. The rebound fell to the top of the crease, where Johnson punched it in for his fifth goal of the year.

Elmira took a two goal lead with 1:38 remaining in the first when Bobby Robins broke down the left wing, slipped by defenseman Victor Uchevatov and cut from low on the left side to the top of the crease where he stuffed it in for his fifteenth goal of the year. Reading got within one at 3-2 1:12 into the second period with the team's second power play goal of the game. Dave Pszenyczny chipped a backhander on goal, which Mustukovs stopped; but a mad scramble ensued and Pszenyczny stepped up and forced it in for his fifth goal of the season.

Elmira regained the two-goal lead early in the third with their second power play goal of the game. After two failed clears by the Royals, the Jackals rotated the puck around to the high slot where Gens took a low hard shot towards the goal. Robins got a piece of the puck on the way in, however, and it fluttered into the upper left corner for Robins second goal of the game. The Jackals extended the lead to three (5-2) with their third power play goal of the game 7:24 into the third. Maxime Boisclair walked out from the right side of the Royals' goal and tried to jam the puck in. Denike made the original stop, but Boisclair got his own rebound and jammed it in for his first goal in his second ECHL game of the year.

Reading cut the lead to 5-3 when Charlie Kronschnabel ripped a low shot from the mid slot that beat Mustokovs low to the glove side. The Royals attempted to press down the stretch, but a late penalty by Steven Later sent the Jackals on the power play in the waning moments. With just 1:02 left and the goaltender pulled, Boisclair picked up an empty-net power play goal to ice things.

Reading returns home tomorrow night (Saturday, March 15 @ 7:05 pm) when the Wheeling Nailers visit the Sovereign Center on "St. Hat Trick's Night". On Saturday, the first 2000 fans will receive a green Royals/St. Patrick's Day hat. The Royals will also wear special St. Hat Trick's Day/Berks Jazz Fest Jerseys that will be auctioned off after the game with the proceeds going to support the Berks County Arts Council. The game night broadcast on Friday night will begin at 7:05 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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