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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Stumble Late And Lose In Johnstown, 5-2

February 11, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Johnstown, PA - The Reading Royals (19 - 23 - 6 = 44; 6th North Division) could not hold a 1 - 0 lead entering the third period, as the Johnstown Chiefs rang off five goals in the final period to win, 5-2. This game marked only the second time this season that the Royals have held the lead entering the third period and ended up losing in regulation (14 - 2 - 3)-although Reading did suffer a 3-2 overtime loss to the Chiefs a week ago (February 2) despite holding a 2-1 lead entering the third period . The loss extended Reading's season high winless streak to six games (0 - 5 - 1). Goaltender Jeff Pietrasiak (11 - 15 - 3; 31/35, 1 eng) picked up the loss for the Royals.

Reading scored 52 seconds into the game when Joe Zappala chipped a puck up the wall from the defensive zone to a breaking Greg Hogeboom, who carried deep into the offensive end on the left wing side. Hogeboom slipped a drop feed to the trailing Brett Smith, who took control in the mid slot and ripped a snap shot high glove side on Johnstown's goaltender (and former Royal) Ryan Munce (6 - 6 - 4; 24/26). That goal, Smith's seventeenth of the season, marked his first shot on goal as a member of the Royals since being acquired last week from the Phoenix RoadRunners. For Hogeboom, this assist extended his personal point streak to a team season high eleven games (8g - 7a = 15pts).

Reading held that 1-0 lead until the 4:22 mark of the third period, when Johnstown capitalized on their seventh power play chance of the night. After a scramble in front of the Royals' net, it appeared that Pietrasiak had trapped the loose puck between his legs, but Maxime Boisclair somehow was able to poke the puck through for his thirteenth of the season. Johnstown took a 2-1 lead 8:12 into the third when Gus Katsuras redirected a Brian Nathe wrister from the right point that snuck through Pietrasiak's legs for his fourth goal of the season. Reading tied the game (2-2) at the 12:08 mark of the third, while playing short-handed, when Hogeboom threw a seemingly harmless wrist shot off the right wing half wall that somehow eluded Munce and ended up in the net. For Hogeboom that goal marked his twenty-seventh of the season, as well as his seventh short-handed goal of the season, extending his previously established team record in that category. Johnstown bounced back to re-take the lead 1:07 later, when Pietrasiak misplayed a puck behind the Reading net, resulting in a turnover that created a scoring chance for Randy Rowe in front of the Royals' goal. Rowe took a relatively weak back-hander from the low slot that somehow snuck through Pietrasiak for what proved to be the game winner. The Chiefs added some insurance 1:46 later when Adam Henrich redirected a John Adams' slap shot from the left point that beat Pietrasiak short side. The Royals attempted to press late but were unable to muster any significant scoring chances in the closing moments, while Henrich added insult to injury with an empty netter with 45 seconds remaining.

The Royals have three more games on the road, starting Wednesday night in Cincinnati (7:30 pm) before returning home on Sunday, February 18 against the Wheeling Nailers (4:35 pm). Royals' game night broadcasts can be heard live on ESPN Radio 1240 am (and on the internet through the Royals' website, www.royalshockey.com), beginning thirty minutes before the opening face-off. Streaming video is also available for $6.00 per game through the B2 Networks, which can be accessed through the Royals' website.

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