ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Slip up in Rough Third Period in Chicago, 5-2

Published on January 8, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Hoffman Estates, IL - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (14-14-3-334, 3rd Atlantic Division), 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 Chicago Express (16-13-4-137, 2nd North Division), 5-2, at Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Reading struck first, but the Express ran off five straight to snap the Royals' six game road win streak. This game marked the twelfth time this year were unable to take the two points in a game where the team had held a lead at some point (0-6-3-3).

Goaltender Karel St. Laurent (loss, 2-7-0-0, 35/40) kept the Royals afloat during the early assault by Chicago, but ultimately sustained his sixth straight loss. Paul Dainton (win, 6-2-2-1, 20/22) beat the Royals for the second time this season. Reading's power play couldn't get on track and was held off the board for the twelfth time this season (0-3). Chicago broke through to tie the game at one with a power play goal with just 33.3 seconds left in the second period (1-4).

After a scoreless first in which the Express outshot Reading 19-6, the Royals broke through 7:43 into the second when Rob Kwiet picked off a Chicago pass at the defensive blue line and sprang Tyler Brenner for a charge up ice. Kwiet joined the rush and took a return feed from Brenner as he broke down the slot. Kwiet slowed as he approached the net and roofed it for his fifth of the year.

Chicago tied the game 19:27 into the second while playing with the man advantage, when Tyler Donati peeled off the right wing wall, took a spot at the top of the right circle and drilled one by St. Laurent high glove side for Donati's eighth of the year.

2:35 into the third, the Express took the lead for what would prove to be for good. Chicago won an offensive zone face-off, allowing Donati an opportunity to slip a cross crease pass towards Chad Painchaud. Reading's defenders rejected that chance, but the loose puck slid to Pierre-Luc Faubert who hit pay dirt from out front for his tenth of the year. 2:25 later, Jonathan Zion walked off the left wall, cut through the slot and slipped a backhand through St. Laurent for what would prove to be the game winner. Chicago added insurance goals from Aaron Marvin (9:41 into the third) and Mike Embach with 2:21 remaining in regulation (during a delayed penalty call with the sixth attacker on the ice) to stretch the Express lead to 5-1. Forty-two seconds after that, however, the Royals Kenny Ryan scored his first as a Royal when he finished from just above the crease on a feed from Yannick Riendeau to cut the lead to three (5-2). But that was far less than would be needed on this night to mount a credible comeback effort, as the Royals' road record dropped to 11-5-2-1.

The Royals are off until next Friday (January 13, 2012 @ 7:05 pm) when the team will return to the Sovereign Center to face the Elmira Jackals. That night, the Royals will host a happy hour from 6:00 - 7:30 pm in 'The Corner' Bar and Restaurant inside the Sovereign Center. The game night broadcast next Friday will start at 6:35 pm with the Red Robin Gourmet Burger Pre-Game Warm-up Show on ESPN Radio 1240 am in Reading. Streaming audio is available free of charge courtesy of America One through the Royals' website, www.royalshockey.com.

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ECHL Stories from January 8, 2012


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