ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Top Texas, 4-1

February 16, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (28-17-3=59, 3rd North Division) of the ECHL won the team's third straight game and snapped a fourteen game unbeaten streak for the Texas Wildcatters with a 4-1 win at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Royals have won nine of the team's last eleven, and this win was the fourth consecutive victory at the Sovereign Center. With this win, Reading became only the third team all season to beat the Wildcatters on the road. Goaltender Jon Quick (20-11-2; 33/34) made a series of highlight reel stops-particularly in the third period-in picking up his twentieth win of the season. Former Royal Jeff Pietrasiak (8-6-1; 19/23) took the loss in his return to the Sovereign Center.

Reading struck first 5:34 into the game when Patrick Jarrett sprang Joe Zappala on a break into the offensive end. Zappala used a Wildcatter defender as a screen and ripped a high, hard snap shot that beat Pietrasiak over the left shoulder for his sixth goal of the year. Reading took a two goal lead with just 17.3 seconds remaining in the first with a power play goal by Jarrett. Zappala threw a brilliant cross ice pass from the right wing side through the Wildcatter box to P.J. Atherton who was planted at the top of the left circle. Atherton fired a slap pass towards the top of the crease, where Jarrett angled the blade of his stick so as to deflect the puck over top of Pietrasiak for his fourth goal of the year.

Reading took a 3-0 lead 3:28 into the second off an odd-man transition rush. Scott Parse carried deep on the right side and threw a saucer through a Texas defender to Ned Lukacevic who snuck up on the left side of the goal for a re-direct and his thirteenth goal of the year. The Wildcatters got on the board 5:55 into the second just after the conclusion of a power play when Moises Gutierrez shot from low in the left circle. The puck appeared to deflect off the skate blade of a Royals' defender and slip between the legs of Quick for Gutierrez's ninth of the year. Reading rebuilt the three goal lead with a power play goal at the 18:42 mark of the second. Atherton got his own rebound after firing a shot from the right point and stepped deep up into the slot where he threaded the needle through a maze of players for his twelfth goal of the year. In the third, the Wildcatters had four power plays-including a long sequence of five on three-and outshot the Royals 18-5; but Jon Quick was nothing short of spectacular, making several stops that deserve a spot on the league's highlight reel, as Reading preserved the team's fifteenth home win of the year (15-6-2).

The Royals are back in action tomorrow afternoon (Sunday, February 15 @ 5:05 pm) when the Gwinnett Gladiators visit the Sovereign Center for the only time this year-at least in the regular season. Prior to the Royals game, Battle of the Badges III will pit the respective hockey teams from the Reading Police and Fire Departments. Opening faceoff on that game will kick off at 1:45 pm-and one ticket gets you both games. The game night broadcast on the Royals game will begin at 4:35 pm with the pre-game warm-up show on ESPN Radio 1240 am in Ephrata, as well as on the internet through the Royals' website, www.royalshockey.com. Streaming video is available on a pay per view basis through the B2 Networks.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 16, 2008


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