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Royals Handle Devils, 4-2

November 27, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Trenton Devils News Release


Reading, PA - Forty-two shots produced only two goals, as the Devils struggled to solve Royals goalie Matt Dalton in a 4-2 loss Friday at the Sovereign Center. Two early Reading scores forced Trenton into playing from behind, and despite staging one successful comeback, they could not answer Reading's third and fourth goals. Trenton's firepower was bolstered by the return of Trevor Kell and Jeff Prough from Lowell, but Prough couldn't score on his nine shots and Kell had one shot and a minus one.

A quick strike put the Royals up 1-0 just 66 seconds into the game. Devils goalie Gerald Coleman, starting his second consecutive game, was beat by Ryan Cruthers who banged one home for his fourth of the year, with assists to Ben Gordon and Daniel Steiner. Eight minutes later, Trevor Kell was called for a clipping minor which set up Reading's second goal of the period. Dan Steiner tried to jam the post on Coleman's right, but the puck came across the goal mouth to Danick Bouchard who had plenty of room to flip in the power play goal at 9:45 and a 2-0 Reading lead.

Trenton's first power play of the game began a minute later, following an interference minor to Rob Kwiet. Blueliners Andy Thomas and Justin Pender passed from point to point, looking for shooting lanes. A one-time try from Pender was stopped, but the puck came back to him for a slap shot. Myles Stoesz redirected the blast past Dalton off the inside of the long post and into the goal for the power play tally at 12:43 in the first.

Another power play chance came early in the second period when Jared Ross was called for hooking at 2:33. With the penalty time winding down, Mike Harder sent the puck toward a mess of players in front, but it popped toward the left wing. Dave Leaderer pinched in from the point to fire the loose puck just under the cross-bar. His third goal of the year tied the game at 2-2, with Harder and Brett Wilson assisting.

The Royals took the lead back for good, netting an even strength goal five minutes later.Charlie Kronschnabel took a timely pass from Kwiet on the left wing and beat Coleman for his fourth goal of the year and a 3-2 lead Royals lead.

An insurance goal was added at 10:23 of the third from Ben McLeod.Ben Gordon drew the attention of Coleman and the Devils defense, skating tantalizingly close the goal mouth, but rather than shooting he found McLeod open in the crease for the final score of the game.

Matt Dalton, named the game's first star, made 40 saves in his third win of the season, coming up with his most impressive saves in the most clutch situations. Trenton created several scoring chances late in the third during a four-on-four stretch which turned into a Devils power play, and then a six-on-four when Coleman was pulled for the extra attacker. Dalton and the Royals sustained the attack and held on for the 4-2 victory.

The victory propels Reading (10-6-1-1, 22pts) into first place in the East, one point ahead of the Elmira Jackals who lost 4-1 against the Wheeling Nailers Friday night. Trenton (7-8-1-2, 17pts) remains in third place and returns home to host Elmira Saturday at 7 p.m. at the newly renamed Sun National Bank Center, formerly the Sovereign Bank Arena. The back end of the home-and-home series starts at 4 p.m. at Elmira's First Arena on Sunday.

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