ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Power Play Makes Jackals Pay, 7-1

February 9, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (26-17-3=55, 3rd North Division) of the ECHL struck for six special teams' goals-five of them on the power play (5 for 11)-to defeat the Elmira Jackals, 7-1, at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. For the fourth time this season, Reading struck for four goals in a single period-this time the second-as Patrick Jarrett became the third player in team history to register five assists in a single game. Jon Quick (18-11-2; 24/25) held Jackals to one goal, marking then ninth time this season that he has held the opposition to one goal less; while Joel Martin (23-8-3; 30/37) took the loss in a game that progressively devolved as the Jackals' team discipline suffered several breakdowns.

Reading struck 12:44 into the game on the team's second power play chance of the night. Marc Cavosie worked the puck low on the right wing side to Kevin Saurette, who threw a beautiful diagonal feed back through the box to P.J. Atherton who was set up at the top of the left circle. Atherton settled and ripped a puck that slipped behind Martin for his eleventh of the year. Reading went up 2-0 with a short-handed goal 6:50 into the second. Jarrett made a great play at the defensive blue line to free Chris Blight for the short-handed break. Blight carried just inside the blue line on the right side and teed off on a low rocket that beat Martin to the stick side for his nineteenth of the year.

The Royals took a 3-0 lead with a five-on-three power play goal 13:06 into the second. Reading sent the puck behind the Jackals goal, and Martin went behind the net to play the puck. That's where Martin ran into trouble, however, and the Royals' Brock Hooton and Jarrett surrounded him. Jarrett then stole the puck and sent it up the gut, where Cavosie stepped in and fired it into essentially an empty net for his tenth goal of the year. 13:06 into the second, Cavosie gave the Royals a 4-0 lead with his second power play goal of the night. Jarrett freed Caovise who found some space in the mid-slot and ripped a snap shot high blocker side on Martin for his second PPG of the night. 2:13 later, Reading took a five goal lead, when Blight bagged his second of the night. Jarrett made a great move off the left half-wall, peeling off and cutting towards the goal. He then slipped the puck to Blight who was planted along the goal line at the left side of the net. Blight somehow snuck the puck through Martin from a sharp angle for his twentieth of the year.

Elmira got on the board with 1:36 remaining in the second, when Bruce Watson forced one through from the top of the crease for his third of the season. Reading added a pair of power play goals in the third to pull away-the first by Dany Roussin (his thirteenth of the year when he jammed in a brilliant back door feed from Hooton) 12:35 into the third; and the second with 2:17 remaining by Joe Zappala (who buried a snap shot from out front). But, more importantly, the Royals took a smart and disciplined approach to the period, as the Jackals' team discipline deteriorated into several messy forays-including one incident that involved a substantial and (what appeared to be) dangerous impact with the referee. Perhaps not surprisingly, the mess further devolved at the conclusion of the game; but the Royals had what they wanted at that point-the two points in the standings.

The Royals are off until next Friday night (February 15; 7:05 pm), when the Dayton Bombers visit the Sovereign Center. That night, the Royals will host "Guys Night," and the first 1500 men 21 years of age and older will receive a hockey puck beer bottle opener courtesy of All Star Distributing. The game night broadcast next Saturday will begin at 6:35 pm with the pre-game warm-up show on ESPN Radio 1240 am in Ephrata, as well as on the internet through the Royals' website, www.royalshockey.com. Streaming video is available on a pay per view basis through the B2 Networks.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 9, 2008


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