Sports stats

ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Fall in OT in Elmira, 3-2

November 26, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Elmira, NY - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (7-9-2-117, 2nd Atlantic Division), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, were defeated by the Elmira Jackals (8-9-0-016, 3rd Atlantic Division), 3-2, at First Arena in Elmira, New York. Reading scored early in the first and built a 2-0 lead in the second period, only to have Elmira battle back to earn the tie-and then the two points in overtime. This OTL, which extended the Royals winless streak to five games (0-3-1-1), marked the sixth time this season that the Royals have held a lead at some point in the game, but failed to register the two points.

Goaltender Joe Palmer (OTL, 4-4-1-1, 29/32 in 61:35) had another solid performance for the Royals, but sustained another hard-luck loss. Elmira's Timo Pielmeier (win, 4-5-0-0, 25/27 in 61:35) registered his first win in three appearances against the Royals. Reading's power play failed to convert with the man advantage for the first time in twelve games (0-5). The Royal's penalty kill was perfect again (5-5), which included killing 1:36 of five-on-three with 3:49 remaining in regulation and the score tied at two. Reading's PK has now killed 26 of the last 28 power play chances for the opposition over the last eight games.

Reading struck 5:37 into the game, when the line of John Scrymgeour, Rob Shearer and Everett Sheen attacked the Elmira net. Scrymgeour kept the puck alive at the left side of the goal and slid the puck to the top of the crease, where Shearer punched it back against the grain, where Sheen in turn forced it in for his second of the season.

The Royals took a 2-0 lead 4:16 into the second when Marvin Degon picked up an Elmira pass in the neutral zone, carried into the offensive zone and ripped a frozen rope over the right shoulder of Pielmeier for his fourth of the season. 1:26 after that, the Jackals answered when the Royals had an opportunity to clear their defensive zone, but failed. Dustin Gazely ended up with the puck in the left circle and fired a cross-ice feed to Mike Radja who was planted on the weak side in the right circle. Radja quickly snapped it home for his eighth of the season.

Elmira tied it with 6:37 left in regulation. Matt Schepke blocked a shot taken by Elmira defenseman Mike Devin, sending Schepke to the ice in pain and crawling towards the Royals' bench. Elmira kept the play alive with Schepke down and out-although it appeared the Royals touched the puck in the sequence, the referee did not stop play and allowed Elmira to re-gain possession, which ended when Radja fired from the top of the left circle beating Palmer low to the glove side.

1:35 into overtime, Elmira's Rob Bellamy and Mario Larocque created a flurry at the right side of the Royals net. Mike Ratchuk joined the fray and forced the puck to through the crease, while Bellamy snuck to the weak side for an easy tap to clinch the victory and drop the Royals' record to 2-6-1-1 in the team's last ten games.

The Royals return home next Wednesday (November 30, 2011 @ 7:05 pm), when they'll face the Jackals for the fifth time this season. That night will be a College Night with select draft beer just $2.00. The game night broadcast will start at 6:35 pm with the Red Robin Gourmet Burger Pre-Game Warm-up Show on ESPN Radio 1240 am in Reading. Streaming audio is available free of charge courtesy of America One through the Royals' website, www.royalshockey.com.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics



ECHL Stories from November 26, 2011


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.

Other Recent Reading Royals Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central