ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Slammed By Jackals, 8-3

Published on February 20, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Elmira, NY - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (25-22-1-354, 2nd 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 Elmira Jackals (28-18-3-261, 1st East Division), 8-3, at First Arena in Elmira, New York. The Jackals exploded for six second period goals to hand the Royals their fifth consecutive road loss. Goaltender Matt Dalton (loss, 16-17-0-2; 26/32 in 56:38), playing in his twentieth consecutive game for the Royals, was left to his own defenses far too often in this loss; while Shane Davis (no decision, 4/6) got his first ECHL action in the final 3:22 of the second period. Andy Chiodo (win, 3-0-0-0; 28/31) took the win in his first start of the year against the Royals. The Royals bagged a four-on-four goal in the first and a power play goal with 1:02 remaining in the game (1-5). All eight of the Jackals goals came at even strength (0-4 on the power play).

The Jackals came out storming and broke through 6:42 into the game when Tyler Donati stuffed back his own rebound for his twenty-sixth of the year after Dalton rejected Donati's original bid from point blank range. Reading tied the game at one 8:14 into the first when Ryan Cruthers threw one from the left corner that appeared to carom off a Jackals' defender and end up in the net for his fifteenth of the year. Elmira re-took the lead and started a series of seven consecutive goals with 2:42 left in the first when Mat Robinson found a wide open space in the mid slot and ripped a blast high, glove side on Dalton for his fifth of the year.

The Jackals' second period explosion started 6:46 in when Chris Korchinski stuffed in a loose puck at the right side of the crease after Dalton knocked down a shot by Michael Busto out of the left circle. Then it was Yannick Tifu's turn as he took a long pass from Wes Cunningham at the offensive blue line and broke in all alone on Dalton firing high stick side for his fourteenth of the year. Jarrett Konkle then racked up a pair at 10:28 and 16:38 of the second-the first on a deft deflection of an R.J. Anderson shot from the right point as Konkle floated across the top of the crease; and the second on a hard snap shot out low right circle perfectly placed to the upper corner of the goal on the short side. Shane Davis took over the Royals' net after Konkle's second, and on the second shot he faced, Tyler Donati slipped one between his legs from deep on the right side to make it 7-1. Elmira finished the second period scoring spree with the hattrick goal of the game for Konkle with just 57 seconds left in the period. On this one, Konkle finished from inside the crease after a multi-shot sequence in tight on Davis for his twelfth of the year.

Reading scored 1:20 into the third when Bryan Ewing fired a perfect pass from high on the right wing side to the low slot, where Yannick Riendeau swept in and angled his deflection up and over Chiodo for his second in two games with the Royals. Reading picked up a power play goal with 1:04 remaining in the game to make it 8-3. Olivier Labelle forced one in from the top of the crease for his fourteenth of the season. But that proved far too little, far too late as the high flying Jackals extended their lead over the Royals for first place in the East Division to seven points.

The Royals and Jackals go at it again tomorrow night (Saturday, February 20, 2010 @ 7:35 pm) at First Arena in Elmira, New York. The Royals game night broadcast on the Royals Radio Network presented by Transmissions by Arbogast will kick off with the pre-game warm-up show at 7:05 pm.

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