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ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Win Goaltenders' Duel Over Greenville, 1-0

February 25, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (26-23-3-459, 3rd Atlantic Division), 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 Greenville Road Warriors (32-20-2-268, 2nd South Division), 1-0, at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Reading got an early goal from Olivier Labelle and then made the one-goal differential hold up under an intense attack from the Road Warriors thanks in no small part to a spectacular goaltending performance from goaltender Jussi Rynnas. The win ran the Royals' record to 5-0-0-0 against Greenville with one more game to be played between the two teams tomorrow.

Rynnas (win, 8-4-0-1, 37/37), who had shared in a shutout with Karel St. Laurent last Saturday (February 18, 2012), got this one all on his own-with significant help from his teammates-making all thirty-seven saves he was called upon to make-several in mind-bending spectacular fashion. Greenville's Jason Missiaen (loss, 14-12-0-2, 27/28) was equally good, but proved to be the hard-luck loser and dropped to 0-2-0-0 in three appearances against Reading this year. The Royals' lone goal came two seconds after the conclusion of the team's first opportunity with the man advantage, but technically it was not a power play goal (0-3). Greenville's league leading power play was held off the board in four chances with the man advantage (0-4).

The lone goal of the game came early on-4:24 into the game-shortly after the conclusion of the Royals' initial power play chance of the game. Ryan Cruthers and Yannick Tifu and picked up assists after working to feed Olivier Labelle low on the left side for a quick turn-and-fire bullet that went across the body of Missiaen high glove side. That was Labelle's team leading twenty-sixth of the season, and his eighth goal in the last seven games. For Tifu, the assist on the goal extended his personal point streak to eleven consecutive games (5g-13a18pts).

From that point forward the game turned into dueling banjos at either end of the ice with Rynnas and Missiaen trading saves as their respective teammates worked hard to create Grade-A scoring chances. As time ticked down in the third, Greenville got a power play chance and pulled the goaltender to gain a late game six-on-four skating advantage, during which the Royals and Rynnas somehow kept the puck above the goal-line to run the team's record to 19-12-1-2 in the last 34 games-and for the first time this season stretch the team's home unbeaten streak to three games (2-0-0-1).

The Royals and Road Warriors go at it again tomorrow (Sunday, February 26, 2012 @ 4:05 pm) at the Sovereign Center. The hockey action kicks off at 12:30 pm with Battle of the Badges VII presented by FirstStates Financial Services when the respective hockey teams from the Reading Police Department and Fire Department have their annual showdown at the Sovereign Center to raise money for a scholarship fund. One ticket gets you into both games. The first 1000 kids (12 and younger) will get a Slapshot pin and there will be a full-team autograph session after the game. The game night broadcast on Sunday will start at 3:35 pm with the Red Robin Gourmet Burger Pre-Game Warm-up Show on ESPN Radio 1240 am in Reading. Streaming audio is available free of charge courtesy of America One through the Royals' website, www.royalshockey.com.

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