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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Hang On For Win Over Elmira, 4-3

December 19, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (16-9-1-2=35, 1st East 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, 4-3, at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. With this win, the Royals, who have compiled a 10-1-1-2 record in games decided by one goal, extended the team's lead over the Jackals for first place in the East Division to nine points. Goaltender Matt Dalton (Win, 8-4-0-1; 21/24) extended his personal unbeaten streak to six games (5-0-0-1). Elmira's Tyler Sims (Loss, 0-1-0-1; 22/26) sustained the loss in his first career start against Reading. The Royals got what proved to be the game winning goal while playing on a five-on-three power play (1-6). Reading's penalty killers kept the opposition's power play off the board for the fifth straight game (0-5).

The Royals got on the board 4:54 into the first period. Daniel Steiner fired a shot from the mid-slot that hit a body out front and rebounded to a spot five feet above the top of the crease. Steiner stepped in, took control, and, as bodies scrambled in front, skated towards the left side of the net where he backhanded the puck over a sprawled Sims for his eleventh of the year-and his fourth ‘first goal' of the year. Elmira tied the game a the 8:04 mark of the first when a tic-tac-toe passing play from Tyler Donati to Justin Donati to Maxime Gratchev, ended with the back-door tap in for Gratchev at the right side of the Royals' net.

Reading re-gained the lead at the 13:52 mark of the first, when Eric Werner made a strong defensive play to thwart an Elmira rush into the Royals' end. Werner not only stole the puck, he also fired a quick transition pass to Andrew Sarauer who carried into the offensive zone on the right wing side. Sarauer then slipped a perfect pass through the low slot to a charging Gavin Morgan, who had joined the rush. As Sims aggressively tumbled to the left side of the net, Morgan went top shelf for his first goal of the year. The Royals took a two goal lead at the 17:05 mark of the first, when another superb first-pass from the defensive blue-line-this one by Joey Ryan-sprang Sarauer for another break into the Jackals' end-this time on the left wing side. Sims rejected Sarauer's shot, but the rebound slid to the right circle where Stefano Giliati stepped up and ripped it home for his tenth of the year.

Reading extended the lead to three (4-1) with a five-on-three power play goal by Danick Bouchard 13:55 into the second period. Bouchard started the play with a perfect pass through the Jackals' defensive triangle from low on the left wing side to the right point, where Werner was waiting. Werner fired a perfect pass to Ben Gordon, who was planted on the right side of the net. Gordon then slipped a seeing-eye pass to the right pipe, where Bouchard stepped in for the back-door tap in, as he registered his ninth of the year-seven of which have been scored on the on the power play.

Elmira started their come-back effort at the 7:33 mark of the third. While the teams were playing four aside, Yanick Tifu made a power move low on the right wing side, cutting to the top of the Royals' crease. Tifu slid the puck across the crease to the left side, where defenseman Mat Robinson stepped in and jammed it home for his third of the year. The Jackals cut the Royals' lead to one with 2:58 remaining when a clearing pass into the neutral zone slid through the stick of Reading defender Nick St. Pierre, allowing Justin Donati to pick up, carry in and bury his thirteenth goal of the year. From that point forward, the Jackals pressed hard, but the Royals hung on for the team's eighth home win of the year (8-3-0-1).

The Royals travel to First Arena in Elmira, New York tomorrow (Saturday, December 19, 2009 @ 7:35) for the first time this season to face the Jackals for the second of what will be three consecutive games between these two teams. Reading's game night broadcast on Friday on the Royals Radio Network presented by Transmissions by Arbogast will kick off at 7:05 pm.

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