ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Extend Streak With OT Win In Wheeling, 5-4

Published on February 24, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Wheeling, WV - The Reading Royals (32-17-4=68, t-2nd North Division) of the ECHL jumped into a tie for second place in the North Division with a come-from-behind 5-4 overtime win against the Wheeling Nailers at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia. Despite leading for a long portion of the game, the Royals fell behind late in the third, before tying it up with 57 seconds left in regulation. Shawn Collymore bagged the overtime game winner to extend the Royals' win streak to four games-and the team's unbeaten streak to a season high eight games (7-0-1). Goaltender Terry Denike (5-5-1; 36/40) picked up the win in his first start since January 12; while former Royal Curtis Darling (5-12-2; 35/40) was the hard luck loser for the Nailers.

Reading struck early-1:24 into the game-when Ned Lukacevic stole off the forecheck in the offensive zone on the right wing side and fired a perfect cross-ice pass to a spot in the left circle, where a hard-driving Charlie Kronschnabel stepped up and uncorked a one-timer for his tenth goal of the season. Wheeling tied it up 4:29 into the first when Chris Snavely kept the puck alive in the offensive end and slipped a pass into the slot to Kevin Croxton, who in turn slipped a pass to the left side of the crease, where Joe Guenther was waiting wide open and all alone for the tap in goal.

The Royals picked up two quick goals early in the second. Joe Zappala extended his personal goal streak to three games when he threw one out of the left corner that went off the stick of a back-checking Nailer and into the net for Zappala's eleventh goal of the year-eleven seconds into the second. 38 seconds later, Mike Salekin swept a knuckling backhander from the left point that Darling stopped; but the puck fell to his skates where Dany Roussin poked it in for his eighteenth of the year. The Nailers then re-grouped and started their climb back into the game. Guenther cut the lead to 3-2 6:25 into the second when Croxton and Kelly Miller worked a give and go deep into the Royals' zone. Croxton then slipped the puck to the top of the crease where a crashing Guenther forced it in for his second of the night and tenth of the season.

Matt Byrnes tied the game at three 3:26 into the third period when Seamus Young fired a shot from the left point that Byrnes deflected behind Denike for his third of the season. Wheeling took their first lead of the game with just 6:48 remaining in regulation with a power play goal. Byrnes and B.J. Radovich went to work at the left side of the Royals' goal and then passed the puck into the low slot where Vadim Slivchenko chipped it in for his fifth of the year. The Royals pressed down the stretch, and it paid off with a six-on-three power play goal with 57 seconds left. With two Nailers in the penalty box, Reading pulled the goaltender with 1:06 remaining for an offensive zone face-off. The Royals won possession of the puck and Marc Cavosie slipped it to Scott Parse in the left wing corner. Parse fired a bullet to the top of the crease where Brock Hooton stuck out his stick at the perfect moment to re-direct it behind Darling and make if 4-4. The Royals got the game winner 2:05 into overtime when Vladimir Dravecky carried deep into the left corner and gunned a beautiful back-door pass to the right pipe where a charging Collymore re-directed it top shelf for his third goal in three games with the Royals.

The Royals return to action on Wednesday night (7:05 pm) against the Johnstown Chiefs at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The game night broadcast that night 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.

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ECHL Stories from February 24, 2008


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