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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Knock Off Everblades, 5-3

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


Estero, FL - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (8-4-1-118, t-1st East Division), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, beat the Florida Everblades, 5-3, at Germain Arena in Estero, Florida. This marked Reading's first regular season win ever against the Everblades (1-2-0) and the first time that the Royals beat Florida-regular season or playoffs-at Germain Arena (1-3-0). With this victory, the Royals climbed into a first place tie in the Eastern Division of the American Conference of the ECHL with the Elmira Jackals. This win also marked the sixth time (in eight wins) this season that Reading, who trailed twice in this game, has come back from a deficit to pull out the two points. Royals' goaltender Andrew Engelage (3-0-0-0; 38/41; 5/5) stretched his win streak to three games; while former Royal and current Everblade goaltender, Barry Brust (1-1-0-0; 23/17 in 40:00), sustained the loss. Goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu (no decision; 13/14 in 18:08) played the third period for Florida. The Royals picked up a pair of goals-including the game winner by Olivier Labelle-while playing with the man advantage (2-10). Florida also racked up a pair of power play goals (2-6).

Reading opened the scoring 8:51 into the first period while on the power play, when Ben McLeod slid a perfect pass from behind the Everblades' net to Nick St. Pierre, who was planted in the mid-slot. St. Pierre fired a quick snap shot high blocker side on Brust to register his first goal as a pro. Florida bounced back late in the first with a pair of goals to take the lead for the first time in the game. The first came 15:04 into the period when Ryan Lang found a seam in the Royals' defense as he carried off the right wing wall to the high slot. Lang held until he was in a perfect shooting position and picked his spot-low glove side-for his third of the year. 2:43 later, Jacob Mcflickier racked up his eighth of the year while the Everblades were on the power play. Defenseman Scott Hotham fired a perfect cross-crease pass to Mcflickier who was planted at the left side of the net; the pass went into Mcflickier's skates, but he quickly dug it out and stuffed it in to give Florida a 2-1 lead.

Reading tied the game at two twelve seconds into the second period. A Florida defender lost an edge and fell right off the opening face-off, allowing Ben Gordon to carry deep into the offensive end on the right wing side. Gordon dropped a pass into the mid-slot for a trailing Daniel Steiner, who fired on net. Brust made the stop on that shot, but the rebound ricocheted to the right side of the net, where Gordon ripped it home for his seventh of the year. Florida re-took the lead (3-2) 1:09 later with their second power play goal of the night. Hotham ripped a blast from the point, which Engelage stopped; but the rebound fell directly to the stick of Ross Carlson, who quickly drilled it back for his first of the year.

From that point forward, all of the goals would belong to the Royals. Reading tied the game at three, 9:02 into the second when Steiner and Ryan Cruthers worked a perfect give-and-go around the Everblades net that ended with Steiner chipping the puck over a prone Brust for his second goal of the year. Three minutes later, the Royals got what proved to be the game winner while playing with the man advantage, when Steiner (who would end the game with a goal and three assists) carried hard out of the left corner to the left side of the crease, where he slipped a pass across the top of the paint to Olivier Labelle, who slid it home for his third goal of the season-and his second game winner. Reading got some insurance 4:07 into the third, while playing a man short-but on a delayed penalty during which they were able to pull the goaltender and get an extra attacker on the ice-when Jared Ross fired a rocket out of the right circle for his third goal of the year. Florida pressed down the stretch-but a series of ill-timed penalties conspired to slow and hinder their attack, as the Royals held on to win the first of what is a three-game series between these two teams in Florida.

The Royals play game two of this three game series against the Everblades in Estero, Florida, on Friday, November 20 (7:30 pm). Friday's broadcast time is 7:00 pm on the Royals Radio Network presented by Transmissions by Arbogast. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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