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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Take Series Lead With 3-2 Win

April 15, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Elmira, NY - The Reading Royals of the ECHL took a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-seven North Division Semi-Final match-up against the Elmira Jackals with a 3-2 victory at First Arena in Elmira, New York. For the third straight game in the series, the Jackals struck first; but Reading battled back with a pair of second period goals by Patrick Jarrett. After the Jackals tied the game at two with a third period short-handed goal, the Royals bounced back with a power play goal by Kevin Schaffer that proved to be the game winner. Danny Taylor (2-1; 17/19) was solid in net for Reading, particularly down the stretch when the Jackals pressed hard; Joel Martin (1-2; 28/31) continued to foil the Royals at important moments, but took the loss.

Elmira struck first 13:37 into the game, when a turnover at the Royals' defensive blue line allowed Benoit Doucet to carry deep to the left side of the Royals net. Doucet threw a pass to the low slot, where a charging Bobby Robins stepped up to fire a hard, low shot through Taylor. The Royals tied the game at one 5:31 into the second period, when Patrick Jarrett created a turnover in the Jackals' end. The puck ended up behind the Elmira goal where Kevin Saurette crashed, took control and slid a pass to the left side of the net, where Jarrett was waiting. Jarrett settled and fired to the far side of the net for his first goal of the playoff series. Jarrett got his second of the series 16:00 into the second. Jarrett won an offensive zone face-off to Kevin Schaeffer who fed Steven Later for a one-timer from the high slot. Martin stopped Later's shot with the glove, but the rebound fell to the top of the crease, where Jarrett swept in, corralled the loose puck and cut across the top of the crease for the chip in goal.

In the third, the Jackals tied the game at two with a short-handed goal by Pierre-Luc Faubert. After an interference minor on Trevor Hendrikx sent the Royals on the power play, Reading created a couple of scoring chances in the early stages of the power play until Matt Gens pressed on the left side, stole the puck and chipped it over the Reading defender at the point. Faubert won the race for the puck, broke free to into the Royals' end and fired a snap shot over the left shoulder of Taylor at the 9:50 mark of the third. Forty-four seconds later, the Royals capitalized on that same power play when Kevin Schaeffer took control in the high slot, settled and ripped a low blast stick side on Martin for what proved to be the game winner. Elmira pressed hard down the stretch, but Taylor and the Royals' defense was up to the task, as Reading won the team's first road game since March 21 when the Royals beat the Jackals at First Arena, 2-0.

The Royals and Jackals head back to the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania, for Game Four of the best-of-seven series on Thursday night (April 17, 7:05 pm). The game night broadcast on Thursday will be live on the internet, which can be accessed through the Royals' website, www.royalshockey.com. Streaming video will also be available on a pay per view basis through the B2 Networks.

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