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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Thrashed by Florida, 7-4

January 19, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Estero, FL - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (1st Atlantic Division, 23-11-2-149), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, were defeated by the Florida Everblades (2nd South Division, 24-18-0-250), 7-4, at Germain Arena in Estero, Florida. The Royals battled back from three separate deficits in the early going, but weren't able to keep up with the Everblades as they pulled away down the stretch. The loss stretched the Royals winless streak to three (0-2-0-1). Goaltender Michael Hutchinson (loss, 3-2-1-1, 20/26, 1 eng) was victimized by the Florida sharpshooters, particularly on the power play. Florida's Bobby Goepfert (win, 15-8-0-1, 32/36) made several spectacular stops in critical moments to keep the Royals comeback efforts at bay. Reading broke through on a late game power play to draw within two (at 6-4) with 5:19 left in regulation (1-5). The Everblades' power play continued it's mastery over the Royals penalty killers, scoring three times in five chances with the man advantage (3-5).

Florida started the scoring 7:26 into the game, when Matt Beca punched back a rebound off an Alexandre Imbeault shot 7:26 into the game. Reading responded fifty-three seconds later with a rebound goal of their own by Brett Gallant, who banged in his first as a Royal. 2:38 after that, the Everblades took their second lead of the game when Beca was sprung through the neutral zone on a perfectly executed set play that sent him busting down the left wing side. He fired across the body of Hutchinson from the left circle for his second of the night at tenth of the season. Reading tied the game for the second time 1:06 after that, when Jared Ross took a drop feed off the right half wall from Yannick Riendeau and ripped a rocket that was deflected on the way in by Devin Timberlake for his fourth of the year. 1:14 after that one, Florida took their third lead of the game with their first power play goal of the night when Imbeault got a Grade-A look out of the right circle and fired it off the right side of Hutchinson's body and in for his league leading twenty-third of the year.

3:49 into the second, Reading tied the game up for the third time, when Yannick Riendeau was awarded a penalty shot, when he was hauled from behind on a clean break away. Riendeau didn't waste the chance going forehand, back-hand, top-shelf for his eighth of the year. Florida took the lead for good 14:22 into the second with their second power play goal of the night. Cedric McNicholl slid a perfect pass from the right circle to the right side of the Royals' goal where Mike McKenzie angled it through on the short side for his fifteenth of the season. Fifty-three seconds after that, Florida took their first two goal lead of the game when a neutral zone turnover resulted in an odd-man rush for the Everblades that ended when Imbeault stick-handled around Hutchinson and stuffed it in for his second of the night and his twenty-fourth of the year.

5:42 into the third, with Florida working on their fourth power play of the, the Everblades put up their third PPG, when McNicoll got off a fluttering one-timer out of the right circle that eked over the left shoulder of Hutchinson for his seventh of the season to make it 6-3 Florida. Reading made a stab at the comeback with a power play goal with 5:49 left in regulation. Rob Kwiet ripped a rocket from the mid-slot, which was kicked out by Goepfert. Casey Haines drilled it back from the dirty-area for his seventh of the season. Reading loaded up for some late game chances; but couldn't break through and with 31 seconds left Imbeault completed the hattrick with an empty-netter to ice it.

The Royals and Everblades go at it again on Friday (January 21 @ 7:30 pm). 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 7:00 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 .

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