Royals Stay Perfect in Pink with Win over Wheeling, 3-1
Published on February 19, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release
Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (1st Atlantic Division, 33-13-2-3=69), 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 Wheeling Nailers (1st North Division, 29-20-0-3=61), 3-1, at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The win marked the fourth consecutive year that the Royals have won wearing pink uniforms in the team's annual Pink in the Rink Celebration. The Royals got yet another late third period tie-breaking game winner-this one from Chris Blight-to run the team's record to twenty games over .500 for the first time this season. Reading is now 10-1-1-1 when entering the third period tied with the opposition. This was the second tight victory in two nights for the Royals over the Nailers and it pushed Reading's record to 8-1-0-0 against Wheeling this season; however, virtually every game between these two teams this season has been a nail biter to the bitter end.
Reading's Matt Dalton (win, 13-6-1-0, 27/28) stretched his personal unbeaten streak to six games with Reading (5-0-1-0) with another clutch performance for the Royals. Wheeling's Patrick Killeen (loss, 17-11-0-2) was equally good; but he proved the hard-luck loser for the second night in a row and the seventh time this season to Reading (1-5-0-2). Neither team was able to capitalize with the man advantage, as the Royals went 0-2 on the power play and the Nailers PP was held off the board in four chances with the man advantage.
Reading struck first 13:46 into the first period when defenseman Todd Perry made a strong move at the offensive blue line to keep a loose puck inside the offensive zone. He then found a straight pathway to the dot in the left circle thanks to a collision between a Royal forward and the closest Nailer to Perry. When he arrived to the center of the left circle, Perry uncorked a bomb that blew by Killeen high on the short-side and sent the water bottle tumbling off the top of the net for his fourth of the season.
Wheeling's Alex Grant tied the game at one at the 9:03 mark of the second immediately after he came out of the penalty box after serving a minor penalty for cross-checking. Grant picked up the puck in the neutral zone, barreled his way down the right wing side, found space low in the circle, turned and wheeled a back-hand towards the Royals' net. The puck struck the skate blade of a Reading defender and angled up and over the right pad of Dalton for Grant's first of the season.
Reading got what proved to be the game winner with 4:34 left in regulation. Again, it was up to Perry to create the offense and he charged deep into the offensive zone where he battled for a loose puck low on the right wing side. After fighting off a Nailer defender, Perry, who had slid to his knees, was able to slide the puck back up into the right circle, where a waiting Chris Blight drilled a laser high on the short-side for his tenth of the season. The Nailers pushed back down the stretch, particularly with the goaltender pulled and the sixth attacker on the ice; but Andrew Sarauer fed Blight for an empty netter with 37 seconds left, which let the big home crowd take a deep breath and go into an ecstatic Saturday night frenzy.
The Royals take on the Elmira Jackals tomorrow (Sunday, February 20, 2011 @ 5:05) at the Sovereign Center. The first 2000 fans will receive a collector's edition trading card set of the Royals' All-Decade Team courtesy of Immix Wireless. The Royals game day broadcast will kick off with the pre-game warm-up show presented by The Works at Wyomissing on the Royals Broadcast Network (WRAW 1340 am in Reading, www.1340wraw.com) at 4:35 pm. 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.
ECHL Stories from February 19, 2011
- Las Vegas Hands Utah Late Loss - Utah Grizzlies
- Aces sneak by Idaho in shootout - Idaho Steelheads
- Everblades surge past Gladiators with four-goal third period - Florida Everblades
- Royals Stay Perfect in Pink with Win over Wheeling, 3-1 - Reading Royals
- Trenton Power Play Punishes Elmira, 3-2 - Trenton Devils
- Road Warriors Drive Past 'Rays In OT - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Kalamazoo Loses 2-1 to Toledo in a Shootout - Kalamazoo Wings
- Road Warriors Slide by Stingrays in OT - South Carolina Stingrays
- Gladiators Fall to Everblades 7-3 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Royals Squeak Past Nailers - Wheeling Nailers
- Jackals Game Preview: Elmira at Trenton - Elmira Jackals
- Road Warriors Announce Player Transactions - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Stingrays Sign Goaltender Jarosz; Trade to Reading - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Transactions - February 19 - ECHL
- Condors Vs. Ontario Tonight - Bakersfield Condors
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Victoria Salmon Kings - Stockton Thunder
- Greenville Road Warriors Game Preview - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Stingrays Gameday: Stingrays Faceoff Against Road Warriors Tonight - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - February 19 - ECHL
- Jackals Pounce on Devils in 5-2 Victory - Trenton Devils
- Condors Comeback for 5-4 Shootout Win Over Reign - Bakersfield Condors
- Reign Fall to Condors in Shootout, 5-4 - Ontario Reign
- Thunder draw eighth crowd over 7,000 to open four-game homestand - Stockton Thunder
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