ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Overcome Mid-Game Lull to Beat Elmira, 4-3

Published on December 28, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (win, 17-9-1-136) of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League, defeated the Elmira Jackals (loss 15-12-0-333), 4-3, at Santander Arena in Reading, PA.

For the second straight night, the Royals defeated the East Division rival Jackals, stretching the team's current win streak to five straight and solidifying the team's hold on third place in the East. This win required considerable resiliency from the Royals, who came out storming (outshooting the Jackals 17-2 in the first period); but found themselves trailing 2-1 after a long lull in the second frame. But the Royals battled back for what would prove to be the team's eighth come-from-behind win of the year. In doing so, Reading got a pair of goals from defenseman Jordan Heywood-his first as a pro opened the scoring and his second proved to be the game winner-and twenty-five saves from goaltender Joe Howe, playing in his first game for Reading. The win pushed the Royals' record to 9-6-0-1 at Santander Arena, where the team has won its last four games.

First Period (1-0, Reading) 16:00 (1-0, Reading) Reading Goal Heywood (1); Johnston and Labelle (net drive swipe off the rush) For the second time in two days, Reading struck first with the first pro goal for one of the Royals' players. Last night it was Matt Hatch who started the scoring with his first as a pro and tonight it was defenseman Jordan Heywood. Late in a dominating period, during which Reading outshot the Jackals 17-2, Andrew Johnston carried off the rush deep down the left wing side. Johnston threw a cross-ice pass that went sliding through the blue paint, as Olivier Labelle was crashing at the top of the crease. The puck, however, slid all the way through the crease to the right side of the net, where Heywood stepped up and swiped the puck home for his first as a pro.

Second Period (2-2, Tie) 3:36 (1-1, Tie) Elmira Goal Bloodoff (3); Tuzzolino and Tassone (wrist shot from low slot) Elmira took advantage of a lackluster effort by the Royals in the second period to take a 2-1 lead. The Jackals broke through after a strong attack, which when coupled with a blown coverage in the low slot of the Royals' defensive zone, left Lucas Bloodoff wide open and all alone out in front of the Reading net. Bloodoff, who had just missed a point blank look moments prior by shooting high and wide, instead slipped this one under and through goaltender Joe Howe for his second in two nights and third of the season.

7:55 (2-1, Elmira) Elmira Goal (Power Play) Rashid (4); Holmberg and Hart (wrist shot along the goal line from deep on the left side) Elmira snapped a streak of fifteen consecutive penalty kills over a span of five games for the Royals with a power play goal mid-way into the second period to take a 2-1 lead. Ryan Rashid controlled deep on the left side directly along the goal line. He slid a puck towards the crease that appeared to pinball through the pads of Howe and into the net for Rashid's fourth of the year.

16:14 (2-2, Tie) Reading Goal Mullane (11); Caruso and Marshall (snap shot from top of the right circle) After playing a less than inspired second period, the Royals got a bit of a break late in the frame, when Pat Mullane fired a snap shot from off the top of the right circle that snuck through the thighs of goaltender Sam Marotta and had just enough energy to trickle across the goal line for Mullane's eleventh of the year.

Third Period (4-3, Reading) 12:04 (3-2, Reading) Reading Goal Labelle (9); Hatch and Lamarche (hard bullet off the rush wide in the right circle) Reading re-took the lead mid-way into the third off the rush, when Matt Hatch carried deep down the left side. As Andrew Johnston drove to the top of the crease, Hatch passed the puck behind Johnston to Olivier Labelle, who was trailing the play deep on the right wing side. Labelle caught the pass and released a hot rocket across the body of Marotta for his ninth of the season.

14:48 (4-2, Reading) Reading Goal Heywood 2 (2); Mullane and Hatch (slap shot from just inside of offensive blue line) The Royals built a two goal cushion 2:44 later with the second of the night for Jordan Heywood. With Olivier Labelle creating an aggressive screen in front of the Elmira net, Heywood ripped a hard slap shot from just inside the blue line in the middle of the ice. The shot buzzed by everybody and hit paydirt high glove side for what would prove to be the game winner.

19:35 (4-3, Reading) Elmira Goal (Sixth Attacker Goal) Tassone (12); Shamanski and Holmberg (rebound put back) Elmira made it a one-goal nail-biter down the stretch with a pulled goaltender sixth-attacker goal with just 25 seconds left in regulation. Steven Shamanksi fired a shot from the left point that goaltender Howe kicked out with the left pad, but Matt Tassone used the inside track to gain possession and chip the puck home for his twelfth of the year.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from December 28, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central