ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Win Second Straight in Florida, 5-2

November 20, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Estero, FL - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (9-4-1-1=18, 1st East Division), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, beat the Florida Everblades, 5-2, at Germain Arena in Estero, Florida. The win, which is the second in a row for Reading in Florida, is the eighth victory for the Royals in the last ten games played by the team. This win also elevated the Royals into sole possession of first place in the East Division of the ECHL's American Conference for the first time this season. Reading goaltender Matt Dalton (2-1-0-0; 42/44) was solid at critical moments of sustained pressure by the Everblades, as he picked up his first win in regulation as a pro. Florida's Chris Beckford-Tseu (1-2-0-1; 27/32) made a number of spectacular stops as well, but sustained the loss. The Royals scored the team's second goal of the evening while playing with the man advantage (1-8); while Florida scored on their final power play chance of the evening early in the third period (1-6).

Florida stormed out of the gates-outshooting the Royals 18-3 at one stage of the first period-and got on the score board 4:16 into the game when Ross Carlson corralled a rebound off an A.J. Thelen slap shot from the left point. Carlson slipped it in for his second goal in the last two games against the Royals. Reading weathered the storm as the first period continued until the team was able to tie the game at the 16:20 mark of the first. Daniel Steiner took a shot from the right point that Beckford-Tseu stopped with the stick; but the rebound slid directly onto the stick of the hard-charging Ryan Cruthers, who buried the opportunity top shelf for his third goal of the year. Reading took the lead 1:59 later while playing with the man advantage. Daniel Steiner fired a shot from deep on the right wing side that deflected off a Florida defender and ended up in the net for Steiner's third of the year. Fifty-six seconds later the Royals got what proved to be the game winner, when Andrew Sarauer picked up in his own end and raced through the neutral zone. Sarauer dished to Gavin Morgan on the right wall directly at the offensive blue line. Morgan slipped a perfect backhand saucer to the mid-slot where Sarauer picked up, carried in and beat Beckford-Tseu low stick side.

After a scoreless second, the Everblades made it a nail-biter with a power play goal 5:56 into the third period. Jordan Morrison slipped a perfect pass to Ernie Hartlieb in the low slot; although Hartlieb partially misfired on the shot, the puck slid to Matt Caria-playing in his first game for the Everblades-and Caria chipped the puck over Dalton to make it 3-2, Reading. The Everblades then proceeded to turn up the pressure cooker; but Dalton and the Reading defense kept the team's head above water until the 17:59 mark of the third, when Stefan Giliati walked out from behind the Florida net, found a seam in the slot, and ripped a snap shot high glove side on Beckford-Tseu for his eighth of the year. Reading could actually take a deep breath forty seconds later when Dinos Stamoulis sprang Steiner on a rush up the right wing side. Steiner blew by everyone, carried deep to the Everblades' net and made a nice move; but Beckford-Tseu made a great stop, only to have the Royals' Ben Gordon step in and bury the rebound for his eighth of the season. With only 1:21 remaining in regulation at that point, there wasn't enough time for the Everblades to attempt to launch what would have required a three goal explosion; so the waning moments in this one ticked off quietly.

The Royals play the final game of this three game series against the Everblades in Estero, Florida, tomorrow night (Saturday, November 21 @ 7:30 pm). Saturday's broadcast time is 7:00 pm on the Royals Radio Network presented by Transmissions by Arbogast. To become a part of Royals hockey, call 610-898-PUCK or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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ECHL Stories from November 20, 2009


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