Sports stats



ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Dump Devils, 4-2

March 28, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (38-24-6=82, 3rd North Division) of the ECHL extended the team's home win streak to five games with a 4-2 win over the Trenton Devils at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Despite registering only twenty shots on goal, the Royals made the most of their opportunities, building a four goal lead before Trenton struck for two late power play goals. Goaltender John Murray (3-1-0; 27/29) stopped the first penalty shot that he's faced as a pro in picking up his third win in four starts; while Maxime Ouellet (2-2-0; 16/20) sustained his second loss of the season in Reading.

Trenton got the game's first scoring opportunity 6:20 into the first period, when Eric Castonguay was awarded a penalty shot after being hauled down while he was on a breakaway which materialized after a turnover at Reading's defensive blue line-while the Royals were on the power play. Murray was, however, up to the task in the first penalty shot he's faced as a pro, forcing Castonguay to cut left-to-right across the crease, where Murray stuffed the attempt. Reading got on the board at the 14:24 of the first period with the twenty-first goal of the year by Chris Blight, who rejoined the Royals from the Albany River Rats of the AHL today. Shawn Germain fed Blight low in the offensive end at the left side of the net. Germain's pass was in Blight's skates, but he was able to control the puck, cut to the top of the crease, and force it through Ouellet to give Reading a 1-0 lead.

The Royals went up 2-0 6:41 into the second when Kevin Saurette took control on the left half wall and was allowed to walk to the high slot, where he took a hard wrister that beat Ouellet high to the blocker side for his twelfth goal of the year. The Royals got what proved to be the game winner late in the second period on a major power play that was awarded when Trenton's Thomas Harrison was assessed with a major penalty for boarding. Malcolm MacMillan took control on the right wall and fed Vladimir Dravecky at the right point. Dravecky ripped a low slap shot that Matt Herneisen, who was playing in his first game since February 1, redirected over Ouellet for what was his fourth goal of the year.

Reading took a 4-0 lead 7:36 into the third period with the team's second power play goal of the night. MacMillan took control at the right side of the Trenton net and ripped a sharp angle shot that beat Ouellet to the short side for his seventh of the year. Trenton tried to climb back in with a couple of power play goals of their own. 9:35 into the period, Matt Cohen fired a shot from the high slot that Murray stopped, but the puck tumbled to the right side of the crease where Eric Castonguay flipped it in for his seventeenth of the season. 1:41 later, the Devils cut the lead to 4-2 with a power play goal by Cohen. Again, Murray stopped a shot from the point (by Zach Tarkir), but this time the rebound fell to the left side of the net where Cohen punched it back for his fifth of the year. The Devils pressed down the stretch, but the Royals held them off for their eleventh home win in the team's last thirteen games at the Sovereign Center (11-1-1).

The Royals are back in action at the Sovereign Center tomorrow night (Saturday, March 29; 7:05 pm) against the Wheeling Nailers. It's American Cancer Society Night and fans are encouraged to bring a flash-light to participate in pre-game ceremonies. The first 2000 fans that night will receive a copy of Center Ice Magazine. The game night broadcast on Friday will begin at 6:35 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.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from March 28, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central