ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Fall In Overtime To Wheeling, 7-6

Published on March 29, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (38-24-7=83, 3rd North Division) of the ECHL fell behind right from the early going, but were able to battle back with four third period goals to tie this one up before the Wheeling Nailers got the game's last goal to win this crazy mess 7-6 in overtime. Royals' goaltender John Murray (no decision; 18/24; 43:10) started and, despite making a number of critical saves, allowed six goals before Tyler Sims (0-1-1; 10/11; 21:08) came on in substitution to take his first pro OTL. Wheeling's Ryan Scott (no decision; 54:01; 37/41) was exceptional in his first pro game before sustaining a late game injury necessitating substation. Peter Vetri (1-1-0; 4/5; 10:17) came on in the late going to pick up his first pro win.

Wheeling came out storming and racked up three first period goals thanks at least in part to an extremely sloppy defensive effort by the Royals: (i) Aaron Boogard (6) @ 2:04; (ii) Justin Chwedoruk (17) @ 3:51; and (iii) Aaron Clarke (18) @ 18:25. Although the sloppy play did not abate in the second period, the Royals did respond with a pair of goals early in the second frame to cut the lead to 3-2: (i) Charlie Kronschnabel (13); and (ii) Joe Zappala (18) @ 2:50.

The nut-fest broke wide open in the third, when another in a series of bad turnovers by Reading resulted in a breakaway goal for Jon D'Aversa (1) forty-four seconds in the period. The Royals bounced back 31 seconds later, when a blown coverage by the Nailers left Brock Hooton wide open out in front, and he bagged his twenty-fifth of the season. The Nailers regained the two goal lead (5-3) 1:16 later, after another series of defensive miscues by the Royals, resulted in a point-blank opportunity for Matt Dias (1). Wheeling took their second three goal lead of the game (6-3) thirty-nine seconds later, when yet another bad turnover by the Royals allowed Matt Byrnes to walk in and bag his fourth goal of the year. The Royals then substituted goaltender Tyler Sims for John Murray, who was understandably shell-shocked by that time.

Reading began to climb back in at the 7:27 mark of the third, when Malcolm MacMillan corralled a rebound and jammed it in for his eighth goal of the year. Kevin Saurette made it a one goal game (6-5) at the 14:01 mark of the third when he fired a sharp angle shot from the right side that beat Scott, who sustained what appeared to be a significant injury on the play-and had to come out of the game in favor of goaltender Peter Vetri. The Royals tied the game with 4:53 remaining, when P.J. Atherton was allowed to walk deep into the slot and chip a shot over Vetri for his fourteenth goal of the year. The two teams traded chances down the stretch-and through the early going in overtime-but Aaron Clarke ripped a blast out of the right circle with just 42 seconds left in the OT to give the Nailers the two points.

The Royals return to action tomorrow afternoon (5:05 pm) when the Cincinnati Cyclones visit the Sovereign Center. The Royals host the Berks Scholastic Ice Hockey League playoffs all day tomorrow before the Royals game. The game night broadcast on Sunday will begin at 4:35 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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