ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Pull Out Overtime Win In Trenton, 4-3

Published on December 27, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Trenton, NJ - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (18-10-1-239, 1st East 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 Trenton Devils, 4-3, at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey. This marked the second consecutive overtime win for the Royals in Trenton, as Reading beat the Devils by an identical score in OT in the team's last trip to the Sun National Bank Center on December 6. Marc Cavosie scored the overtime game winner, marking his second career OT GWG for Reading. (He also scored for the Royals in overtime on January 19, 2008 against the Johnstown Chiefs). Goaltender Andrew Engelage (Win, 4-1-0-0; 46/49) won in his first start for the Royals since November 25. Gerald Coleman (OTL, 5-6-2-2; 29/33) remained winless in five starts against the Royals this season (0-2-2-1). The Royals picked up the overtime winner while playing with the man advantage (1-5); while Trenton scored their second goal of the game on the power play (1-7).

Reading scored 7:24 into the game when a strong fore-check resulted in a chance for Olivier Labelle in the left circle. Labelle ripped a low, hard snap shot to the right corner of the net for his seventh of the season. The Royals took their first two-goal lead of the second period when Eric Werner threw a wrister off the left point towards the Devils' net. Ryan Cruthers, who factored in all four goals for the Royals (1g-3a), held his position in front of the net and re-directed the puck into the upper right corner for his seventh of the season 6:42 into the second period.

The Devils cut the lead in half (2-1) at the 11:56 mark of the second when Chris Poli fired a perfect slap pass off the left point to a waiting Kyle Kucharski, who was planted at the right side of the Royals' goal. Kurcharski was able to re-direct the puck with a fluid motion into the right corner of the goal for his seventh of the season. Reading bounced back to regain the two goal lead with 2:42 left in the second period, when Cruthers sprang Labelle down the left wing side into the offensive end. Labelle made a power move to the net out of the low left circle and forced the puck under Coleman for his second of the night and eighth of the year.

Trenton battled back to tie with back-to-back goals early in the third period. The first came at the 4:35 into the period while the Devils were on the power play. Jack Combs slipped one from directly along the goal line from wide on right side that somehow snuck in for his third of the year. A minute later, Trenton tied the game at three when Kucharski carried deep into the offensive end on the right wing side and found an unguarded Ryan Ginand charging towards the Royals' goal down the slot. Ginand took the pass, cut left to right across the top of the crease and slid it in for his first goal of the year. The teams traded chances for the final fifteen minutes of regulation, but neither team could break through. In overtime, Trenton had the early edge but a high sticking penalty assessed against Justin Coutu 2:25 into OT sent the Royals on their fifth power play of the night. Cruthers, Eric Werner and Marc Cavosie worked the puck around the perimeter, until Cavosie got a chance to rip a one-timer out of the right circle that beat Coleman high to the short side for his fourth of the year-and his second game winner of the season.

The Royals return to the Sovereign Center on Tuesday night (December 29, 2009 @ 7:05 pm) when the Elmira Jackals visit Reading. That night, a Royals' fan will win a trip to the 2009 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic in Boston, Massachusetts. Reading's game night broadcast on Tuesday on the Royals Radio Network presented by Transmissions by Arbogast will kick off at 6:35 pm.

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