ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Salvage a Point out of Trip to Manchester

Published on November 19, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Manchester, NH - The Reading Royals (OTL, 6-8-1-1 14) of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, were defeated in overtime by the Manchester Monarchs (win, 10-4-0-1 21), 4-3, at SNHU Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire.

In the Royals' final game of the regular season in Manchester, New Hampshire, Reading struck first, but as has been the case in virtually all five games so far played in this series, got caught in a short, but turbulent meat-grinder attack of the Monarchs, who rang off three goals in a span of 4:25 in the second period to build a two goal advantage. However, Reading clawed the team's way back with a couple of goals, including a dramatic game-tying sixth attacker goal with just 1:09 remaining in regulation to get to overtime, where the Royals dominated the action but not the score, as Manchester took the two points. The OTL snapped the Royals six game losing streak, but stretched the team winless streak to seven (0-6-1-0).

For the third time in five games against the Monarchs, Reading struck first when Tyrell Goulbourne powered his way into the offensive zone and slipped the puck to Mike Pereira, who was supporting him from behind. Pereira settled deep in the right circle, turned and wheeled a shot that slipped through goaltender Sam Brittain for his sixth of the year 5:33 into the first period.

Manchester came out storming in the second and racked up three in a row in relative short-order. The first came 1:21 into the period when Quentin Shore fired a short-side back-hand from deep in the right circle up and over the left shoulder of goaltender Mark Dekanich for his sixth of the year. The Monarchs took a 2-1 lead1:29 later on their first power play chance of the night when Dekanich rejected a Justin Agosta bid from the high slot; but the rebound fell to the right side of the Reading crease where Joey Diamond was wide open and all alone for an easy tap in and his seventh of the year.

2:56 after that, Manchester stretched the lead to 3-1 when David Kolomatis fired a shot from the right point that went by the Royals' net on the right and came out on the left where a waiting Jordan LaVallee-Smotherman was wide open for a relative easy punch back with Dekanich caught on the other side of the net.

Reading drew back within one at 3-2 7:06 into the second off the rush when Chris McCarthy ripped a shot from the high slot that Brittain stopped; but had trouble controlling. The rebound fell to left side of the crease, where Olivier Labelle came buzzing in for a quick punch between Brittain's legs and his sixth of the year.

The Royals pressed hard in the third; and Manchester had several counter-punch chances of their own. But the score remained unchanged until the Royals pulled Dekanich in favor of a sixth attacker and opened the shooting gallery. With 1:09 left, Chris McCarthy got a great look from the top of the left circle and didn't waste it, beating Brittain low to the stick side for his team-leading seventh of the year.

The Royals had the bulk of the chances in overtime, but the Monarchs claimed the two points when Diamond got a good look from the mid-slot. Dekanich made a save on that bid, but the rebound fell to his left, where Daniel Doremus slipped by and stuffed the puck home for the OT GWG.

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ECHL Stories from November 19, 2016


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