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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Get a Point in Elmira, 3-2

March 30, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Elmira, NY - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (35-28-4-477, 3rd Atlantic Division), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, were defeated by the Elmira Jackals (45-22-2-294, 1st Atlantic Division), 3-2, in overtime at First Arena in Elmira, New York. Reading built a 2-0 lead with back-to-back goals mid-way into the first, but for the twenty-second time this season, the Royals were unable to hold that lead and gain the two points. It was the ninth time this season that the Royals blew a two-goal lead-six of which have come to the Jackals, who took over the top slot in the ECHL's Eastern Conference. This OTL pushed the Royals outside the playoff picture in the East with one game remaining in the regular season-but there are several possibilities that still could result in Reading earning a spot in the post-season action.

Goaltender Karel St. Laurent (OTL, 4-9-1-0, 36/39 in 60:43) played a solid game in his first appearance for the Royals since March 14. Brian Stewart (win, 26-11-2-0, 18/20 in 60:43) ran his record to 8-1-1-0 in ten appearances against the Royals. Reading's power play was held off the board (0-4), which included a chance with the man advantage with just 1:38 left in regulation that carried over for the first 22 seconds of overtime. Elmira got the game tying goal 3:40 into the third period, while on the power play (1-3).

Reading struck first 9:27 into the game, when a misfired shot from the right point by an Elmira defender was settled by Ethan Cox in Reading's defensive zone. Cox then sprang a breaking Ian O'Connor through the neutral zone. O'Connor blew by everyone and drilled a bullet through Stewart for his second as a Royal since being acquired on the trade deadline from the Stockton Thunder-and his seventeenth of the year.

1:13 later, the Royals extended the lead to 2-0, when Yannick Riendeau fed Yannick Tifu as he was breaking into the offensive zone on the left wing side. Tifu avoided a big hit, carried into the left circle and fired a cross-ice pass to Kenny Ryan who was cutting down the slot for the wide open look. Ryan buried his chance for his thirteenth of the season.

Elmira struck back 16:38 into the first, when Dustin Gazely, who had two goals and an assist on the night, controlled on the left half-wall. As the traffic in front of him cleared, Gazely carried into the left circle, stick-handled his way to the left side of the Royals' net, and then slid a pass back across the crease to a waiting Mike Radja, who easily finished for his thirtieth of the year.

After a scoreless second, the Jackals tied the game with a power play goal 3:40 into the third. Again, Gazely took possession on the left half wall, but this time he carried to the left face-off dot where he fired towards the Royals' net. The puck appeared to pinball off a Royals' defender and the the pads of St. Laurent and then trickled across.

Both teams had chances down the stretch-particularly for the Royals in a late game power play chance. But Elmira completed their twenty-third come-back of the year (and the twelfth time they have won when trailing entering the third) 43 seconds into overtime, when Jordan Pietrus fired from the high slot. The shot went wide right, drawing St. Laurent to that side of the net. But Gazely swept behind the net, corralled the loose puck and wrapped it around and in on the left pipe to send the sell-out crowd into a frenzy.

The Royals complete the regular season tomorrow (Saturday, March 31, 2012 @ 7:05 pm) when the team faces the Trenton Titans at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Royals will celebrate Fan Appreciation Night with the first 5000 fans receiving a team poster courtesy of Reading Eagle. There will be giveaways for the fans on every stoppage in play. Prior to the game, there will be a jersey auction (the V&M Towing Warm-Up Jerseys) to benefit the Gilmore-Henne Foundation starting at 5:30 pm in the Coca-Cola Lounge in the Sovereign Center. All ticketed fans are invited to the pre-game jersey auction. After the game, the Royals will raffle off the team's game-worn jerseys to the Full Season Ticket Holders.

Saturday's game night broadcast will start at 6:35 pm with the Red Robin Gourmet Burger Pre-Game Warm-up Show on ESPN Radio 1240 am in Reading. Streaming audio is available free of charge courtesy of America One through the Royals' website, www.royalshockey.com.

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ECHL Stories from March 30, 2012


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