ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Snap Streak With Shootout Win Over Elmira, 6-5

Published on December 7, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - For the second game in a row, the Reading Royals (6-17-1= 13; 7th North Division) of the ECHL jumped out to a three goal lead only to give up four consecutive goals to the opposition-but, unlike last night against the Florida Everblads, in this one, the Royals battled back and ultimately got to the shootout, which Reading won over the Elmira Jackals, 6-5. The win snapped an eight game losing streak and a nine game winless streak for the Royals. Goaltender James Reimer (3-2-0; 37/52; 3/6 in shootout) battled through the up and down game to pick up the win; while Elmira's Mitch O'Keefe (sol, 9-4-1; 18/23; 2/6 in shootout) suffered the first blemish on his record in four games against the Royals (3-0-1). The Royals went one for four on the power play; the Jackals bagged one power play goal in six chances with the man advantage.

Reading jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three first period goals. Dan Rudisuela got his first of the night (and sixth of the season) when Shawn Snider dug a puck off the end wall and fed Rudisuela in the low slot for a quick snap shot to give the Royals a 1-0 lead 6:53 into the game. Reading struck on the power play at the 12:46 mark of the first when Peder Skinner slid a brilliant pass to Matt Curley in the mid slot. Curley stepped into a snap shot that beat O'Keefe for his second goal of the year. The Royals stretched the lead to three at the 13:59 mark of the first, when another brilliant pass-this one from Rob LaLonde-sprang Kirk MacDonald into the offensive end. MacDonald ripped a snap shot for his eighth of the season.

Elmira responded with three second period goals to tie the game. The first came 10:37 into the second when Slavomir Tomko forced one from low on the left side into the crease that somehow snuck through to get the Jackals on the board. 3:17 later, Bruce Watson made a nice pass off the end wall to Chris Korchinski who bagged the first of what would prove to be three goals on the night from the right side of the net. Korchinski tied the game at three at the 17:37 mark of the second with what was essentially a carbon copy of his first goal-with the pass off the end wall coming from Ryan Gibbons on this one.

The Jackals took their first lead (4-3) 2:44 into the third period with a power play goal. Brandon Roach teed one up from the left point that beat Reimer high blocker side for his fourth of the year. The Royals re-tired the game (at four) 2:44 later with a goal immediately off a face-off in the left circle of the Elmira zone. Rudisuela won that face-off into the net for his second of the night and seventh of the year. Reading re-gained the lead at the 7:05 mark of the third when Kirk MacDonald slipped a pass from behind the Jackals' net wall to Chris Stevens in the low slot. Stevens bagged his snap shot for his third goal of the year-all three of which came in his last two games with the Royals since being acquired on Thursday from the Phoenix Roadrunners. Elmira bounced back with the hattrick goal by Korchinski, who was able to take possession of a puck floating through the air at the right side of the Royals' net and jam it under Reimer for his eighth of the year at the 9:58 mark of the third.

Neither the Royals nor Jackals were able to resolve this one in regulation time; and despite the Jackals pouring on the pressure during a four-on-three power play for the last 1:42 of overtime, no one bagged an OT winner, either. In the shootout, both teams sent six shooters. Four Royals scored: David Nimmo, MacDonald, Rudisuela and Snider (shooting sixth); while Reimer stopped three Jackals including Paul McIlveen, who shot last, to bag the two points for Reading.

The Royals return to action on Wednesday night (December 10 @ 7:30 pm) when the team travels to the E.J. Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio. Wednesday's game will be broadcast live on the Royals Radio Network Presented by Transmissions by Arbogast (True Oldies WRAW 1340 am in Reading; and The Ticket WLAN 1390 am in Lancaster), as well as on the internet via webcast hosted by Sportsjuice.com, which can be accessed through the Royals website. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from December 7, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central