ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Fall In Overtime to Kalamazoo, 3-2

Published on October 24, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Kalamazoo, MI - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (1-1-1-1=4, 2nd 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, played a gritty road game; but were dropped in overtime by the Kalamazoo Wings, 3-2, in Reading's first game in team history at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo. The Royals scored the first two goals of the game and weathered a late game charge to get to overtime, where the team immediately found itself short-handed due to penalties assessed at the end of regulation. The Royals and goaltender Kevin Regan weathered that storm, as well, but just as the power play expired Mathieu Curadeau forced one through to give the K-Wings the two points. Regan (1-1-1-1; 42/45) was nothing short of spectacular, particularly down the stretch; while Ryan Nie (2-0-0-0; 31/33) won for the second time in two starts against the Royals this season. Reading second goal was scored while the team was on the power play-but the PP did not make the Wings pay enough for a string of penalties (1-8) in the second and third periods of play. Although Kalamazoo's power play did not technically register a goal, the Wings' final power play chance in overtime proved to be the actual straw that broke the camel's back (0-3).

Reading struck 9:05 into the first when Gavin Morgan won an offensive zone face-off to Andrew Sarauer, who in turn slid a cross-slot pass to Charlie Kronschnabel who gained important space low in the left circle. Kronschnabel's quick snap shot beat Nie for his second of the season. Reading took a two goal lead early in the second period on the team's third power play chance of the night. Stefano Giliati fired what appeared to be an intended pass out of the right corner to the middle of the crease, where the puck ricocheted off Nie and into the net for Giliati's third of the season 1:19 into the second period.

Kalamazoo began to climb back in 4:17 into the second when Andrew Fournier put back a juicy rebound from the top of the crease after Regan had rejected a Tom Morrow shot from the left wing point. The Wings tied the game at two 15:28 into the second period when Ryan McGinnis fired a high shot from the point. The puck hit Darryl Bootland in the chest, but he was able to control the puck as it fell to the ice. Bootland quickly slid a back-hand pass back into the slot, where Curadeau swept a one-time wrist shot by Regan for his second of the year.

After a scoreless but wild third period during which Regan put on a clinic in solid positioning, poise, fight, and acrobatics, the Royals had two players receive minor penalties for roughing in a scrum at the end of regulation. Only one Wing player was penalized, so Kalamazoo started overtime on a four-on-three power play. The Wings opened up the shooting gallery, but Regan stayed strong until the power play expired. At that point, Curadeau took one more wild swipe out of the right circle that snuck through Regan for the overtime game winner.

The Royals and Wings go at it again tomorrow afternoon (4:00 pm) at Wings Stadium. Sunday's broadcast time is 3:30 pm on the Royals Radio Network presented by Transmissions by Arbogast. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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ECHL Stories from October 24, 2009


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