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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Tripped in Trenton, 5-3

February 12, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Trenton, NJ - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (23-21-1-3=50, 2nd East Division), 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 Trenton Devils (18-22-4-5=45, 1st East Division), 5-3, at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey. The Royals battled back twice from one goal deficits-and held a 2-1 lead early in the second-but the Devils got a late game goal from Dan Eves that proved to be the difference. The loss, the second in ten games for the Royals this season against the Devils (8-2-0-0) extended the Royals season long losing streak to four games. Goaltender Matt Dalton (loss, 14-16-0-2; 41/45; 1 eng) was the hard-luck loser as he made a number of spectacular stops, particularly in the third period when the Devils had 21 shots on net. Dave Caruso (win, 9-14-1-1; 27/30) beat the Royals for the second time in a row. The Royals power play, which had been held off the board in five of the last six games, broke through for a pair while playing with the man advantage (2-7). The Devils also picked up a pair of power play goals (2-7), continuing a trend for the Royals PK, which has given up at least one power play goal against in seventeen of the last twenty games.

Trenton broke through with 53.3 seconds remaining in the first period with a five-on-three power play goal. After the Devils' power play maintained a long sequence of puck possession in the offensive end, Dan Charleston took a shot from the top of the right circle that appeared to strike the stick of a Reading defender and deflect into the upper right corner of the net for Charleston's second goal of the year. Reading tied the game with a power play goal of their own 1:55 into the second when Bryan Ewing was sprung by a Ryan Cruthers' pass down the right wing side and ripped a perfect snap shot out of the right circle that went low far side on Caruso for Ewing's twelfth of the year. The Royals then took their only lead of the game with another power play goal at the 5:41 mark of the second. On this one, Cruthers made a perfect pass from deep in the defensive zone to Andrew Sarauer at the offensive blue line, while the Devils were changing their penalty killers. Sarauer charged into the offensive end and went forehand-backhand-forehand five-hole for his eleventh of the year.

The Devils re-tied the game at two with an even strength goal at the 10:58 mark of the second. Jeremy Akeson carried into the offensive end on the left wing side. As he stumbled to the ice, the puck slid to the stick of Jeff Prough deep on the left side. Prough slipped a pass back up into the slot where a charging Tony Zancanaro had time and space to settle and fire low glove side on Dalton for his twelfth of the year. Trenton re-took the lead (3-2) at the 13:55 mark of the second with their second power play goal of the night. The Royals' penalty killers attacked in the right corner when it appeared the Charleston had loss possession of the puck. But Charleston re-gained control, passed off to Slavomir Tomko, who worked it to the top of the left circle where Justin Pender stepped in a ripped a low, hard blast. Dalton got a chunk of the puck, but not enough as it slid through for Pender's seventh of the year.

After killing the remaining 1:24 of a late second period penalty assessed against Rob Slaney, the Royals struck to tie the game at three-nine seconds after the expiration of that penalty. Dalton made a point blank stop on a chance for Brett Wilson who took a feed from the right corner for a quick, tight chance. After that stop, the Royals gained possession of the puck and forced it into the offensive end, where Ben Gordon swooped in, corralled the puck in the left circle and fired a laser under the bar glove side for his twentieth goal of the year. The teams traded chances down the stretch, with the Devils getting several of the Grade-A variety; but Dalton and his teammates held strong until late in the period when a relentless fore-check by Trenton converted for the game winner. Ryan Ginand pressed in the left corner, gained possession and fed Charleston, who slid the puck to the mid-slot where Dan Eves was waiting for the perfect one-timer low to the glove side for what proved to be GWG with just 2:18 remaining in regulation. The Devils tacked on a short-handed empty netter when Matt Vokes swiped one from deep in the defensive zone that rolled on end about 140 feet into the Reading net with 16 seconds left.

The Royals and Devils go at it again tomorrow night (Saturday, February 13, 2010 @ 7:05 pm) at the Sovereign Center when the Royals host Teacher Appreciation Night presented by Bellco Federal Credit Union. The Royals game night broadcast on the Royals Radio Network presented by Transmissions by Arbogast will kick off with the pre-game warm-up show at 6:35 pm.

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