ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Knock off Jackals

Published on March 2, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Elmira, NY - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (27-24-3-461, 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 (34-21-2-272, 1st Atlantic Division), 3-1, at First Arena in Elmira, New York. The victory marked the first regulation win for the Royals over the Jackals since November 13-a span of nine games between the two teams. This win was also Reading's league leading nineteenth road victory of the year (19-10-2-1).

Goaltender Mark Owuya (win, 9-1-2-1, 47/48) earned the number one star as he stretched his unbeaten streak with the Royals to six games (6-0-0-1). Elmira's Timo Pielmeier (loss, 13-10-1-2, 20/22, 1 eng) dropped to 3-2-1-0 in seven appearances against the Royals this year. Reading scored the team's first goal on the front-end of a five-on-three power play (1-2). The Royals penalty killers held the Jackals power play off the board (0-5), which included a kill mid-way into the third with the Royals leading by just a goal.

For the eleventh consecutive game (and the thirty-fifth time of the season), Reading scored the game's first goal 4:25 into the first period while playing with a five-on-three skating advantage. Ryan Cruthers spun and fired out of the left circle. Pielmeier made the save, but the rebound slid to the top of the crease, where a crashing Olivier Labelle got a whack at it. The second rebound fell to the right side of the crease, where Mikael Bedard gained possession and roofed it for his fifteenth of the year-and fifth in twelve games with Reading.

Reading built the lead to 2-0 4:01 into the second when defenseman Brodie Beard, playing in his first pro game, sprang Kenny Ryan with a beautiful pass through the neutral zone for a breakaway. Ryan blew by everyone and ripped a bullet over the left arm of Pielmeier for his tenth of the year.

Elmira got on the board 16:50 into the second when John Kurtz finished on a rebound after a wild multi-shot scramble around the Royals' net.

Reading had a chance to re-build the two-goal cushion 16:54 into the third, when Matt Caruana was awarded a penalty shot. But Pielmeier kept the Jackals unblemished record in tack with respect to the Royals on shootout attempts (and now penalty shots) this season at fifteen saves on fifteen shots.

Bedard added an empty netter with 42.9 seconds left; but more importantly for the Royals, the team held the 'come-back' kids, i.e. the Jackals (who have twenty-one come-from-behind wins this year-eight of which have come against Reading, including the last three games played between the two teams) from mounting another disheartening come-back in this one.

The Royals and Jackals go at it again tomorrow (Saturday, March 3, 2012 @ 7:05 pm) when the two teams face off at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. That night, we'll celebrate Slapshot's birthday with mascot mania. 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 2, 2012


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