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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Lose to Nailers, 3-1...Decisive Game 5 Tomorrow in Wheeling

April 14, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


On the strength of two power play goals in a sixty-six second span, the Nailers
bested the Royals, 3-1, knotting their Northern Division semifinals series at two
games apiece. 

After a scoreless first period, in which the Royals out-shot Wheeling, 8-7, both
teams got on the board in the second period via special teams' play.  Reading opened the scoring on a David Masse (1g) man-advantage goal at the 3:20 mark of the second period.  The home team worked the puck around well, with Masse finishing off a one-timer from the slot.  Forwards Judd Medak (1a) and Graig Mischler (1a) assisted on Masse's fifth of the postseason. 

The Nailers (2-2-0) responded less than four minutes after Reading (3-2-0) took the lead, as both Medak and forward Lars Pettersen received penalties, giving the Northern Division's number one seed a five-on-three powerplay for 1:22.  Wheeling cashed in on both opportunities, as Jason Jaffray (1g, 1a) and Steve Crampton (1g) scored just 1:06 apart.  After 40-minutes of play, the Royals trailed, 2-1. 

In the third period, with Reading pressing for the tying goal, Nailers' goaltender
Nick Boucher (28 saves, 1a) had all the answers, making nine third-period saves for his first victory of the postseason (1-0-0).  Defenseman Mario LaRocque (1g) added an empty-net goal for Wheeling with 59 seconds to go, to ice the contest. 

Royals' netminder Cody Rudkowsky (22 saves) dropped to 3-2-0 in the postseason, while team captain Brad Church led Reading with five shots on goal.  The Nailers finished 2-3 on the powerplay, while the Royals went 1-4.
 
The best-of-five series is now tied at 2-2, with game five coming tomorrow night in Wheeling.  Faceoff is at 7:00 pm.  All the action can be heard live via the Royals' website at www.royalshockey.com   A tape delayed broadcast of the game can be heard locally on ESPN Radio 1240AM, following the conclusion of the Reading Phillies game.
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