ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Winless Streak Stretched to Six with SOL to Elmira

November 30, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals of the ECHL (7-9-2-218, t-2nd 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, were defeated by the Elmira Jackals (9-9-0-018, t-2nd Atlantic Division), 3-2, in a shootout at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Royals built a 2-0 first period lead, but for the second consecutive game, the Jackals battled back to earn a tie-and ultimately took the two points in the shootout. This game marked the fourth time in the last six games for Reading that the team held a lead entering the third period, but were not able to close out the win. Reading's winless streak now stands at six games (0-3-1-2).

Goaltender Joe Palmer (SOL, 4-4-1-2, 38/40 in 65:00, 1/4 in shootout) made a number of spectacular stops and earned the game's first star despite falling in the shootout. Elmira's Brian Stewart (win, 5-3-0-0, 21/23 in 65:00, 3/3 in shootout) won for the second time in three starts against the Royals. Reading's power play-which included two third period chances with the game tied at two-was unable to break through (0-3); but the Royals' PK was perfect for the sixth time in the last eight games (4/4).

The Royals dodged an early bullet when Elmira was awarded a power play chance thirty-three seconds into the game, during which the Jackals created a golden scoring chance for defenseman Mario Larocque coming down the gut for a point-blank bullet; but a brilliant stop by Palmer kept the game a scoreless tie. Reading tapped into the momentum of that stop and the early kill when Louis Liotti scored his first goal in two seasons with the Royals 2:56 into the first. Liotti fired from the right point. The puck appeared to be deflected on the way in and went over the right pad of Stewart to stake the Royals to a 1-0 lead.

14:54 into the first, Reading took a 2-0 lead when Liotti fed Matt Schepke, who in turn sprang Dennis McCauley for a hard rush deep into the left circle. McCauley fired across the body of Stewart and hit the interior portion of the right pipe, causing the puck to ricochet into the net for McCauley's third of the year.

Elmira finally broke through on Palmer 3:29 into the second period after an offensive zone face-off was awarded to the Jackals after an intentional off-side was assessed against the Royals. Defenseman Matt Campanale gained possession in the right circle and slid the puck to the top of the crease, where it appeared to deflect off the skate of a Reading defender and end up in the net for Campanale's second of the season.

Elmira tied the game at two twenty-three seconds into the third period, when the Jackals attacked right off the face-off to start play in the third. Kevin Harvey carried into the offensive zone, fired a hard shot on net, and started a crazy multi-shot scramble around the net during which the Jackals forced at least four shots on goal. Palmer made several spectacular sprawling saves, but couldn't get the final chance which fell to the stick of Harvey, who slid it through a mass of humanity in the Royals' crease to pick up his first of the year.

Elmira outshot the Royals 14-5 through the third period and overtime, but were unable to solve Palmer until the shootout, when three Jackals' shooters (Dustin Gazely, Mike Radja, and Jack Downing) bagged their chances-while all three Reading shooters (Yannick Riendeau, Ryan Cruthers and Yannick Tifu) were stoned by Stewart to drop the Royals record to 1-4 in games that have gone beyond regulation time (and 1-2 in the shootout).

The Royals seek to get back on the winning track this Friday night (December 2, 2011 @ 7:05 pm), when the team will face the Wheeling Nailers for the first time this year. The Royals will honor the Berks County Sheriff's Department that night. It's also our Pucks-N-Paws night with a happy hour in 'The Corner' Restaurant and Bar from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. The game night broadcast will start at 6:35 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.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics



ECHL Stories from November 30, 2011


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