ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Falter Down The Stretch And Lose In Overtime To Fresno, 7-6

December 17, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - In a game that had a little bit of everything for everybody, the Reading Royals (15-5-2=32) scored six goals on their first 17 shots to build a 6-2 lead mid-way into the second period, only to have the Fresno Falcons ring off five consecutive goals, including the game winner 48 seconds into overtime to beat Reading 7-6 (ot) at the Sovereign Center. Although the Royals did pick up a point in the standings, Reading was unable to hold a multiple goal third period lead for the second time in less than a week and the third time this season.

The Royals got on the board first when Chris Bala scored on a rebound shot from in tight at 3:36 of the first period on Fresno's starting goaltender, Brett Jaeger. Reading went up 2-0 when Grant Jacobsen scored his fifth goal of the season when he finished on a brilliant feed from behind the net by Malcolm MacMillan at the 7:30 mark of the first. Fresno cut the lead to one (at 2-1) when Matt Dechamps scored his first goal as a pro by chipping a shot on goal that somehow eluded Royals' goaltender Cody Rudkowsky at the 13:42 mark of the first. But the Royals rebuilt the lead to 3-1 when Reagan Rome scored on a shot from the left wing point two minutes and ten seconds later, while the Royals were on the power play. With that goal, the Falcons pulled Jaeger and substituted goaltender, Mike Brown.

In the second, the Royals took a three goal lead, when Chris Bala was sent off to the races after a blocked shot by Chris Barr for Bala's second goal of the game just 1:22 into the period. But again, Fresno fought back with a rebound goal by Brett Hammond a minute and forty-six seconds later. The Royals however continued on their scoring binge when Jon Francisco finished on a Shay Stephenson feed out of the right wing corner at the 8:01 mark of the second; and Mike Kompon scored a power play goal 2:39 later to make the score 6-2. Shortly thereafter, the Falcons changed goaltenders again, sending Jaeger back in the net.

From that point forward, it was all Falcons as they rang off five consecutive goals-three on the power play and one while they were playing shorthanded-by Derek Krestanovich, Pete Fregoe (2) and Cory Murphy (2). Three of those goals-the shorty by Fregoe and power play goals by Fregoe and Murphy-came within a span of 3:59 in the third period to tie the game at six, after the Royals had entered the period leading 6-3. In the overtime, Fresno, who outshot the Royals 42 to 24, scored off the rush 48 seconds in when Luke Curtain dropped a pass to Murphy who beat Rudkowsky with a 30-foot snap shot low to the stick side. This marked the first overtime loss of the season for the Royals who are now 2-1 in games resolved in the five minute sudden death extra frame.

The Royals "Rock The House Weekend" with Y102 continues Sunday afternoon (1:00 pm) when the Fresno Falcons back at the Sovereign Center. Any patron who purchased a full price ticket to Saturday's game can get the same seat to Sunday's game for only $5.00. Sunday's game is sponsored by Advance Auto Parts, and the first twenty five hundred fans in attendance will receive a Royals Poster, courtesy of the Reading Eagle, and the first two thousand fans will receive Comcast Thundersticks. Tickets are still available at the Sovereign Center Box Office, or by phone at 610-898-PUCK.

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ECHL Stories from December 17, 2005


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