Royals Sunk By Bombers' Late Game Surge, 5-2
November 9, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release
Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (3-8-0 = 6; 6th North Division) of the ECHL got off to a good start and played with poise and composure until a late game three goal power play surge by the Dayton Bombers sank the Royals' hope to break what is now a four game losing streak, 5-2. The game was highlighted by a short-handed penalty shot goal by Brock Hooton of the Royals; but it was decided by a sequence of three consecutive power play goals by the Bombers within a span of 2:12 in the latter stages of the third period. Royals' goaltender, Danny Taylor (loss, 1-7-0; 34/39) sustained his fourth consecutive loss; while David Shantz (win, 4-2-0; 28/30) won his first outing ever against the Royals. Reading's power play was blanked in six chances with the man advantage, while the Royals' penalty killers knocked off ten consecutive power play opportunities for the Bombers until Dayton struck for three in a row late in the game (3 - 14).
For the second consecutive game, the Royals got on the board first early in the opening period, when Ned Lukacevic scored his second goal in two games for the team. Lukacevic dug off the right wing wall and cut to the center of the ice, where he fired a low, hard shot that slid through Shantz to give Reading a 1-0 lead. 2:07 later, the Bombers tied the score at one when defenseman Joe Van Culin fired a shot from the left point that beat Taylor to the short-side for Van Culin's first goal of the season.
The Royals found themselves in a hard spot mid-way into the first when a double minor assessed against Kevin Harvey overlapped with a penalty assessed against defenseman Kevin Schaeffer to give the Bombers 1:45 worth of five-on-three. The Bombers created a scoring chance and hit the pipe, but couldn't bang home the rebound; and Brock Hooton of the Royals stole and broke. Hooton was hauled from behind and awarded the short-handed penalty shot at the 11:56 mark of the first. Hooton didn't waste the chance, swinging wide left and beating Shantz to the short-side to become the fourth player in Royals' history to score on the penalty shot (in seven attempts over the eight year history of the team).
Dayton re-tied the game at two at the 4:10 mark of the second, when Ryan Smyth won a battle behind the Royals' goal and walked out above the goal line on the left wing side. The right-handed shooting Smyth turned and wheeled a low shot that beat Taylor to the far side for his second goal of the season. Although the Bombers outshot the Royals 17-4 in the second, Reading was able to maintain the tie after forty-minutes despite a total of nine power plays for the Bombers through the first two periods.
Reading played a solid and steady third period, until the Bombers picked up their eleventh power play opportunity at the 13:37 mark of the third. Ten seconds into that power play, Greg Labenski stepped up at the right point and fired a low slap shot that slipped through Taylor to give the Bombers' a late game lead. From there, things went downhill quickly, as the Bombers bagged back-to-back power play goals within thirty-seconds of one another: (i) the first on a rebound put back by Mike McLlean at 15:29; and (ii) another swiped in rebound by Christian Gaudet at 15:59.
The Royals take on the Elmira Jackals at First Arena in Elmira, New York on Tuesday, November 11 (7:05 pm). Fans can watch the game via streaming internet video on the B2 Networks free of charge at the Royals' "Viewing Party," which will be held at The Works at Wyomissing (1109 Bern Road, Wyomissing, PA; 610-375-2700) on Tuesday. Seats in the Crane Rail Bar that night will be available on a first come, first serve basis only. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.
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