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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Fall To Cincinnati In Shootout, 4-3

March 9, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Cincinnati, OH - The Reading Royals (33-19-6=72, 3rd North Division) of the ECHL struck for a third period power play goal to tie the game at three, ultimately getting to the shootout where the Cincinnati Cyclones took the two points, 4-3. Cincinnati scored first, but the Royals held a brief lead in the second (2-1) before the Cyclones bounced back to take a one goal lead into the third. Patrick Jarrett scored Reading's second power play goal of the game 3:20 into the third to tie the game. In the shootout, three Cyclones solved Terry Denike (5-4-3; 29/32; 3/6), including Olivier Latendresse shooting sixth for the win; while Maxime Daigneault (9-2-0; 26/29; 4/6) stopped four Royals, including Ned Lukacevic shooting fifth for the win and Steven Later shooting sixth to keep the Royals hopes alive.

After a scoreless first, the Cyclones struck first 4:10 into the second, when David Desharnais walked out from behind the Royals goal, found a space in the low slot just as Denike was knocked out of position by a teammate. Desharnais fired into the essentially empty net for his twentieth goal of the year, extending his personal point streak to 26 consecutive games-the fourth longest point streak league history. Reading bounced back to tie 1:47 later with the team's first power play goal of the game. Dave Pszenyczny fluttered a one-timer from the high slot that Shawn Collymore deflected into the net for his fifth goal of the year. The Royals took a 2-1 lead 9:06 into the second when Pszenyczny chipped one towards that net that hit a couple of players in the mid-slot. Kevin Saurette was able to force the puck to the right circle, where Joe Zappala settled and fired for his sixteenth goal of year. That goal extended Zappala's goal scoring streak to a team record eight games and proved to be Zappala's twelfth goal in his last thirteen games.

Cincinnati re-tied the game at two at the 11:59 mark of the second period off a transition rush. Scott Reynolds charged towards the Reading goal and fired out of the right circle. Denike stopped the original shot, and he stopped the rebound opportunity for the crashing Barrett Eghoetz as well. But the second rebound bounced out between the hash-marks, where Reynolds retrieved and fired for his twelfth goal of the year. The Cyclones re-took the lead with a power play goal with 2:58 remaining in the second period. Mathieu Aubin shot from the right circle, and Denike made a stop with the left pad. The rebound fell to the top of the crease where Matt Syroczynski battled for and obtained position-and was able to bag his twenty-sixth goal of the year. Reading earned the tie at the 3:20 mark of the third with the team's second power play goal of the game. Zappala fired from the mid-slot and Daigneault made the stop, but Patrick Jarrett was able to dig the loose puck out and stuff it in at the right side of the net for his seventh goal of the year.

Both teams had chances down the stretch, the Cyclones hit at least one goal post and a cross-bar; while the Royals had two shots-one by Steven Later and one by Ned Lukacevic-the team felt went in during the waning moments. But both of those were waived off-and probably correctly so. In overtime, the Royals pressed hard again, out-shooting the Cyclones 6-2; but Daigneault and the Cyclones stood fast and got themselves to the shootout. In the alternating shot format, Cincinnati chose to shoot first in the shootout and bagged three goals: (i) Jason Deitsch (stopped); (ii) Thomas Beauregard (scored); (iii) David Desharnais (stopped); (iv) Mathieu Aubin (scored); (v) Barrett Eghoetz (stopped); and (vi) Olivier Latendresse (scored). Two Royals scored on their attempts: (i) Shawn Collymore (stopped); (ii) Scott Parse (scored); (iii) Brock Hooton (stopped); (iv) Kevin Saurette (scored); (v) Ned Lukacevic (stopped); (vi) Steven Later (stopped). With the shootout win the Cyclones extended the team's home unbeaten streak to twenty one games (19-0-2); while shootout loss for Reading dropped the team into third place in the North and put the magic number for Reading at four points (any combination of four points gained by the Royals or loss by the Trenton Devils) to clinch a playoff spot.

The Royals return to action tomorrow (Sunday, March 9; 6:05 pm) against the Wheeling Nailers at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia. The game night broadcast that night will begin at 5:35 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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