ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Run Over by K-Zoo in Game One, 8-3

April 15, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (0-1-0), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, were defeated by the Kalamazoo Wings (1-0-0), 8-3, in Game One of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semi-Finals at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The K-Wings, who did not play in Reading during the regular season, rang off four first period goals on their way to a 5-0 lead before the Royals could finally break through. Game Two of the series is tomorrow night (Saturday, April 16 @ 7:05 pm) at Sovereign Center.

Royals' goaltender Matt Dalton (win, 3-2-0; 12/16 in 20:00) allowed four goals in the first period and sustained the loss. Ben Scrivens (no decision, 19/22, 1 eng, in 38:51) made his first appearance in a pro playoff game, coming on in substitution of Dalton after the first. Kalamazoo's Ryan Nie (win, 4-1-0, 30/33) won his fourth straight game of the post-season. Reading's third goal came while the team was playing with the man advantage (1-2). Kalatamzzo's eighth goal came on a late game power play (1-3).

It appeared that Reading scored first 7:59 into the game when Yannick Riendeau wrapped one in at the right pipe. But, much to the chagrin of the home crowd, the referee waived the goal off ruling that Nie had kept the puck above the goal line with his left pad. Fifty-three seconds later, Kalamazoo was credited with the game's first goal of the game, when Aaron Clarke wrapped one around at the right pipe, and Dalton kicked it out with the left pad; however, Dean Strong, who was wide open in front of the net, took possession of the rebound and slid it back through for his first of the playoff season. 13:44 into the first, Brandon Svendsen fired out of the left circle, and the puck fluttered off the cuff of Dalton's catching glove and into the net to make it 2-0 Kalamazoo. 2:07 after that, a neutral zone turnover resulted in a transition rush, which Kory Karlander finished with a snap shot from the right side of the mid-slot that beat Dalton high stick side for his third of the playoff season. The K-Wings took a 4-0 lead 3:04 after that when Andrew Fournier got loose in the left slot for a hard snap shot that again beat Dalton high stick side with only 1:04 left in the period.

The second didn't start much better. After a strong push in the early going from the Royals, Kalamazoo's Justin Taylor ended up with the puck in the right circle and attempted to throw a cross-ice pass. The puck hit the stick of Reading's Ryan Cruthers and deflected into the Royals' net to make it 5-0 7:50 into the second. Reading broke through with six minutes left in the second. Matt Caruana fed Andrew Sarauer at the top of the right circle. Sarauer carried deeper into the right side of the slot and fired a perfect snap shot high blocker on Nie for his second of the playoff season. Reading then cut the lead to 5-2 when Rob Slaney fired a diagonal-down feed off the top of the right circle that a sliding Casey Haines was able to redirect low to the short side on Nie for his first pro playoff goal with just 18.1 seconds left in the second.

Again, the Royals pushed hard in the early stages of the third; but it was Kalamazoo who would get the bounce and the goal. 6:20 into the period, Svendsen attempted to fire a cross ice pass out of the left circle; but it hit a Reading defender and bounced directly back to the stick of Svendsen who quickly swept it in, as Scrivens had moved laterally off the pipe anticipating the pass to make it 6-2 Kalamazoo. 2:01 after that, Reading drew back within three when Ryan Cruthers chipped one up and over a pile of players in front of the Wings' net while the Royals were on the power play for his fourth of the playoff season. But from that point forward, Reading was unable to pull it any tighter-giving up an empty netter to Trent Daavetilla with 1:42 left in regulation; and then a power play goal to Aaron Clarke with 45 seconds left to make it look a bit worse than it probably was.

The Royals and Kalamazoo Wings play Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals tomorrow (Saturday, April 16 @ 7:05 pm) at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The game night broadcast will kick off with the pre-game warm-up show presented by The Works at Wyomissing at 6:35 pm on WRAW 1340 am and on the internet at www.1340wraw.com. You can also catch all of the Royals away games this season on Royals TV exclusively on BCTV courtesy of Boscov's Travel, and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Season tickets for the Royals' 2010-11 season are currently available. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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