ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Win Goaltenders' Duel With Dayton, 1-0

Published on February 19, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Dayton, OH - The Reading Royals (29-13-6=64) won for the second consecutive night in Dayton, as Cody Rudkowsky made 38 saves to pick up his second shutout of the season and Malcolm MacMillan racked up a third period goal to lead the Royals to a 1-0 victory over the Bombers. This game marked the eighth one goal game in the last ten for the Royals, who took sole possession of first place in the North Division with this win.

Despite the paucity of goals, there were numerous scoring opportunities at both ends of the ice, as Rudkowsky and Dayton goaltender Mike Brown traded turns repelling their respective opponent's attack, and it was not until the third period that the goaltenders' stalemate would be broken. The Royals started the determinative scoring chance with offensive zone pressure from Chris Bala and Grant Jacobsen, forcing the Bombers to cough up a puck deep in their defensive zone. After taking control of the puck on the end wall, Jacobsen threw it out front where a scramble ensued. Royals' defenseman Eric Werner had one whack at it before the puck landed on the stick of MacMillan at the right side of the Bombers' goal. By this time Dayton's goaltender Brown was down on the ice and somewhat out of position, although he was still in a position to contest a shot from MacMillan. But instead of shooting, MacMillan stickhandled around Brown and stuffed the puck in at the right pipe to give the Royals' all they would need to win at the 8:35 mark of the third. Things did not go easily down the stretch for Reading, however, as Dayton created numerous scoring chances as time was ticking down, including one in the waning moments that required Royals' defenseman Nick Vukovic to make a game saving stop in the net when Rudkowsky was caught out of position. Nonetheless, the Royals did hold on for their fourth win in four tries at Dayton this year.

The Royals return home tomorrow afternoon for a 3:30 match-up against the Trenton Titans. Immediately prior to Sunday's game, the Reading Fire Department will take on the Reading Police Department in the First Annual Battle of the Badges Charity Hockey Game, which will serve to raise funds for the Michael H. Wise II Memorial Foundation. All fans with a ticket to the Royals game on Sunday, February 19, can also gain admittance to the Battle of the Badges, which will begin at 1:00 pm. Royals' game day broadcasts can be heard on ESPN Radio 1240 am in Ephrata and www.royalshockey.com with pre-game beginning 30 minutes before the opening face-off. Streaming video is also available through the Royals' website on a pay per view basis provided by B2 Networks.

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ECHL Stories from February 19, 2006


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