ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Fall Short Against Nailers, 6-4

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


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (13-27-2= 28; 7th North Division) of the ECHL scored four third period goals, but it was not enough to pull off a late game comeback, as the Wheeling Nailers beat the Royals 6-4 at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Nailers built a three goal lead entering the third, when the Royals were finally able to break through and make a game of it; but Wheeling responded down the stretch to preserve the win. Goaltender James Reimer (loss, 7-5-1; 20/25; 1 eng) sustained the loss; while the Nailers' Curtis Darling (win; 15-9-4; 35/39) made a number of big stops at big moments to keep his team in the game. Reading bagged two third period power play goals (2-4). The Nailers' first goal came while they were playing with the man advantage (1-3).

The Nailers got things going 5:03 into the game on the team's first power play chance of the night. Defenseman Doug Krantz fired a perfect slap-pass from the left point directly to Erik Johnson who was floating through the low slot. Johnson angled his stick for a simple deflection that slipped behind Reimer for his first (of what would be three) of the night and ninth of the season. Wheeling built a two goal lead with just 1:38 remaining in the first, when Tommy Goebel tracked down a loose puck in the offensive end and fed defenseman Elgin Reid at the left point. Reid stepped down to the top of the left circle where he ripped a blast through traffic that beat Reimer for his tenth of the year.

The Nailers took a 3-0 lead 5:10 into the second period, when Goebel fed Brock Sheahan in the high slot for a hard slap shot. Reimer made the original stop, but the rebound fell to the top of the crease where Andrew Lord punched it back for his eleventh of the year.

The flood gates opened in the third, beginning 3:51 into the period while the Royals were playing on the power play. Rob LaLonde stepped into the mid-slot and fired a shot that went high over the Nailers' net; but ricocheted off the back glass and bounded to the front of the Wheeling net, where Darling was sprawled out and unable to gain control. The Royals' Chris Stevens stepped in and banged the puck home for his ninth of the year. The Nailers bounced back 74 seconds later, however, when the Royals' failed to clear the defensive zone, and Reimer suddenly found himself in a position of having to face a tight shot from Matt Grenier. Reimer made that stop; but Bryan Ewing was right there to swipe the rebound into the net to make it 4-1, Wheeling.

The Royals responded to make it a two-goal game again at the 9:00 minute mark of the third, while Reading was playing on their second power play chance of the period. On this one, Mac Faulkner fired a cross ice pass from the left wing side to LaLonde who was planted at the top of the right circle. LaLonde uncorked a one-timer that blew by Darling for his second of the season. The Royals cut the Nailers' lead to one (4-3) at the 13:13 mark of the third, when Tyler Doig tracked a loose puck down on the left half-wall. Doig fired a quick, cross-ice feed to Mac Faulkner who was planted at the right pipe. Faulker jammed the puck in for his thirteenth of the year.

The Nailers bounced right back, however to re-build the two goal lead (5-3) 1:32 later. This was another broken play around the Royals' goal in which Matt Grennier was able to gain possession behind Reading's net and force a pass to the front of the net, where Johnson slipped it through for his second of the game. Reading responded to make it a one-goal lead again (5-4) with 2:06 remaining in regulation. As the Royals pressed, the team created a wild scramble around the net where Stevens was able to take control and force the puck into the crease where Kirk MacDonald batted it in for his fifteenth of the year. Reading continued the effort to tie things up down the stretch; but the Nailers put a damper on that effort, when Johnson was able to bag an empty netter with 13.2 seconds remaining to hand Reading their second consecutive home loss.

The Royals return to action on Friday (January 30 @ 7:05 am et) when the Wheeling Nailers return to the Sovereign Center. Next Friday's game will be broadcast live on the Royals Radio Network Presented by Transmissions by Arbogast (True Oldies WRAW 1340 am in Reading; and The Ticket WLAN 1390 am in Lancaster), as well as on the internet via webcast hosted by Sportsjuice.com, which can be accessed through the Royals website. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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