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.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics



ECHL Stories from April 14, 2004


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