ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Take Out Jackals, 6-3

Published on November 6, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Elmira, NY - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (2nd Atlantic Division, 4-5-0-0=8), 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 Elmira Jackals (1st Atlantic Division, 6-2-2-0=14), 6-3, at First Arena in Elmira, New York. The Royals scored the game's first two goals and never trailed in registering the team's first win over Elmira in four tries. Goaltender Matt Dalton (win, 2-2-0-0; 30/33) was solid in repelling the Elmira attack, which was fueled by eleven power play chances. Elmira's Marco Cousineau (no decision, 8/10 in 8:12) started and allowed the first two goals before giving way to Mike Brodeur (loss, 1-1-0-0; 12/16 in 51:48). The Royals took a 2-0 lead in the first with the team's only power play goal of the night (1-5). Elmira's first two goals were scored on the power play, but the Royals penalty killers held strong during several extended stretches of power play time for the Jackals at critical moments in the second and third periods (2-11).

Reading struck first 5:09 into the game, when Chris Blight stole in the neutral zone and fed Matt Caruana at the offensive blue line. Caruana threaded a perfect pass to the charging Andrew Sarauer, who carried deep into the left circle before firing across the body of Cousineau for his second of the season. The Royals took a 2-0 lead 8:12 after capitalizing on a series of early power play chances. Blight and Sarauer worked the puck around the Elmira net before Caruana took control at the right side of the goal and slid the puck under a sprawled Cousineau for his sixth of the year. That goal chased Cousineau in favor of Brodeur. Elmira got on the board at the 11:59 of the first with a power play goal by Michael Dubuc. Justin Donati took control on the left side and fed Andrew Sweetland below the hash-marks in the low slot. Sweetland then deftly re-directed the puck to the low right side where a waiting Dubuc easily bagged the back-door goal.

Reading re-gained a two goal lead 2:22 into the second period, when Matt Caruana registered his second goal of the game-and his team leading seventh of the season. Blight, who would complete the game with four assists, stole in the left corner and fed Caruana in the mid-slot just above the hash-marks. Caruana had time to settle and fire and he didn't waste the chance, ripping it high blocker on Brodeur. The Jackals clawed back within one (3-2) with a power play goal by Eric Regan 12:09 into the second. Donati carried behind the Reading net and fed it to the top of the right circle where Regan got a wrister off that slid through. The Royals regained the two goal lead with a minute remaining in the second when Ben Gordon fired a shot from the left point that deflected off the shaft of an Elmira stick and fluttered into the upper left corner of the night to make it 4-2, Reading.

The Jackals made a game of it 1:09 into the third period, when Dubuc fired off the rush and Dalton made a great stop, but the rebound slid to the low slow, where Samson Mahbod stepped in and whacked the puck through for his second in two games. Reading took the team's third two goal lead (5-3) 3:45 into the third on a beautiful tic-tac-toe passing play between Gordon, Ryan Cruthers and Olivier Labelle which was finished with a back-door slam dunk by Labelle. Reading added insurance twenty-five seconds later when Jared Ross fired one from the right point that hit the right pipe and ricocheted off the cross-bar and in for his first of the year. From that point forward, the Royals were able to protect the three goal lead to run the team's record to 3-2-0-0 on the team's current six game road trip.

The Royals complete a season long six game road trip in Wheeling, West Virginia on Thursday (November 11 @ 7:05) when Reading will face the Wheeling Nailers for the third time this year. The Royals' broadcast will kick off with the pre-game warm-up show presented by the Works at Wyomissing at 6:35 pm on the Royals Broadcast Network (WRAW 1340 am in Reading, www.1340wraw.com). You can also catch all of the Royals away games 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.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics

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



ECHL Stories from November 6, 2010


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