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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Get Last Gasp OT Win Over Elmira

February 10, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (21-20-3-3=48, 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, defeated the Elmira Jackals (26-16-2-2=56, t-1st Atlantic Division), 3-2, in overtime at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Yannick Tifu became the first player in team history to score overtime game winners in consecutive games, when he bagged this one with less than a second remaining five-minute sudden death overtime. This game marked the fifth time in nine games played between Reading and Elmira that had to go beyond regulation for resolution. The Royals, who are now 4-2-1-2 against the Jackals, face Elmira for the tenth time tomorrow at Sovereign Center.

Goaltender Jussi Rynnas (win, 4-2-0-0, 36/38 in 64:59) made several game saving stops for the Royals-a couple late in regulation and at least one in overtime-to register his second consecutive OT win. Elmira's Brian Stewart (OTL, 15-8-1-0, 29/32 in 64:59) dropped to 4-1-1-0 in six decisions against the Royals this season. Reading's power play squandered 79 seconds of five-on-three in the first period and was unable to capitalize on a double minor assessed against Elmira's Craig Rivet late in the second, but the PP came through when it counted-with time ticking down in OT (1-5). Elmira scored thirteen seconds into their first power play chance of the night, which was awarded just 48 seconds after the opening face-off.

The Jackals struck on their second shot of the game 1:01 into the first period, while playing with the man advantage. Artem Demkov found former Royal Jimmy Martin at the top of the right circle with a cross-ice pass. Martin ripped a perfect bullet over the left arm of Rynnas for his fifth of the year.

After dodging a couple of first period bullets-including two ‘waived off' goals for the Jackals-Reading tied the game thirty-five seconds into the second period when Dave Cowan fired from the high slot. Matt Caruana deflected Cowan's shot on the way in for his third of the season.

Twenty-eight seconds after that the Royals took their first lead of the game, when defenseman Zach McKelvie ripped one from the left circle that beat Stewart high to the short-side for his first as a Royal to make it 2-1, Reading.

Elmira re-tied the game at two 15:39 into the second when Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel sprang Dustin Gazely with a blue-line to blue-line pass. Gazely blitzed into the offensive end and fired from deep on the right side, beating Rynnas high short-side for his fourteenth of the year.

After a scoreless third, in which Rynnas made several game-saving stops, the Royals got a power play chance in overtime when Elmira defenseman Matt Campanale was assessed with a holding minor 3:52 into OT. Reading capitalized with time ticking down, when Denny Urban fired from the high slot with 1.4 seconds left. The puck went in-and-out of the glove of Stewart, and Tifu batted the loose puck out of mid-air and into the net for his thirteenth of the year-and second consecutive OT GWG for the Royals. The win ran the Royals home record to 6-12-1-2.

The Royals and Jackals go at it again tomorrow night (Saturday, February 11, 2012 @ 7:05 pm) at the Sovereign Center. The Royals encourage fans to bring a non-perishable food item that will be donated to the Greater Berks Food Bank. Fans who donate a non-perishable food item on Saturday will receive a coupon good for two free Purple Zone tickets with the purchase of one Purple Zone Ticket to the Royals game against the Florida Everblades on March 14, 2012 at the Sovereign Center. The game night broadcast on Saturday 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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