ECHL Reading Royals

The Royal Road Ahead: Reading Royals at Cincinnati Cyclones

February 21, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


ROYALS PRE-GAME NOTES

- This evening, the Royals conclude a five game road in the same place it started-US Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. Reading won the game that kicked off this road trip over the Cyclones (5-0) on Wednesday, February 11. The Royals then traveled to WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia,

where the team fell in overtime (2-3) on Friday, February 13. Reading then went north to First Arena in Elmira, New York, where the Royals defeated the Elmira Jackals (7-3) on Saturday, February 14. Last night, Reading fell in Kalamazoo, Michigan (4-1) to the Kalamazoo Wings.

- Tonight, the Royals face the Cyclones for the third and final time of the regular season-all three of which have been (or are to be) played here at US Bank Arena. Reading defeated the Cyclones, 5-1, in the opening game of the three-game season series on Saturday, January 31. In that game, the Royals got a couple of power play goals and 30 saves from goaltender Martin Ouellette to fuel the victory. A week ago Wednesday (February 11), Reading racked up five goals from five different players (Sean Wiles, Jordan Heywood, David Marshall, Adam Hughesman, and Pat Mullane), and goaltender Connor Knapp made all twenty-two saves he was called upon to make to record his first shutout as a Royal in the 5-0 victory.

- This marks the fifty-eighth regular season matchup between the Royals and Cyclones in the two teams' respective histories. Reading has compiled a record of 27-25-5 against Cincinnati.

- The Royals and Cyclones have faced off four times in the post-season: (i) 2008 North Division Finals (won by Cincinnati, 4-3); (ii) 2010 American Conference Finals (won by Cincinnati, 4-3); (iii) 2011 Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals (won by Reading, 3-1); and (iv) 2013 Eastern Conference Finals (won by Reading, 4-1).

- Last night's 4-1 loss in Kalamazoo snapped Reading's team record fourteen game unbeaten streak (13-0- 1-0). That loss also ended Reading's nine game road unbeaten streak (8-0-1-0). Friday night's game was the first regulation loss for the Royals in thirty-five days, dating to a 4-2 loss to the Elmira Jackals on January 16, 2015.

- The loss to the K-Wings dropped the Royals' overall record to 34-14-2-1=71, but Reading remains in first place in the East Division of the Eastern Conference, three points ahead of the Florida Everblades (who also lost on home ice to the Orlando Solar Bears, 5-2).

- Reading has compiled a record of 25-6-1-0 in the team's last thirty-two games, which is a .797 win percentage.

- With last night's loss to the K-Wings, Reading's record against teams from the North Division fell to 19-8- 1-0 with ten more games to be played this season against teams from the North including tonight's matchup against the Cyclones.

- Last night, the K-Wings struck first-on their first power play chance of the night 16:32 into the first period-marking the third consecutive game in which Reading has allowed the game's first goal.

Overall, the Royals have given up the first goal of the game twenty-three times this year and have compiled a record of 11-10-2-0 in those games (and 7-3-2-0 on the road).

- The Royals outshot the K-Wings in last night's game 37-29. That marked the twenty-seventh time that Reading has outshot the opponent, and the team has compiled a 16-9-1-1 record in those games (and 10-6-1-0 on the road).

- Last night's game marked only the third time this year that Reading has been held to one goal or less (0- 3-0-0). The previous games in which Reading scored one or fewer goals were both against the Elmira Jackals at Santander Arena in Reading (on October 26, a 3-1 loss; and on December 31, a 4-0 loss).

- Reading has scored a total of 184 goals in fifty-one games this season, which translates into a 3.61 goals per game average (fourth best in the league).

- Last night's game marked the sixteenth time this year Reading has allowed four or more goals against. Reading is 4-11-1-0 in those games.

- Overall, the Royals have allowed 147 goals against, which is a 2.88 team goals against average (eleventh in the league).

- Two of the goals scored against Reading last night were empty netters-the first a short-handed empty netter with 1:27 left in the regulation and the second just 26 seconds later. Reading has allowed six empty net goals this season. (The Royals have scored a total of three empty-netters this year.)

- David Marshall scored the lone goal for the Royals in last night's game. Marshall has scored a goal in seven of his last ten games for Reading. He has had at least one point in nine of his last eleven games.

Marshall has twenty-points (9g-11a) in his last nineteen games. Marshall tied his personal season high with six shots on goal last night.

- In ninety-seven career games with the Royals, David Marshall now has thirty-six goals (tied sixteenth overall with Chris Bala and Jon Francisco) and eighty-nine points (fifteenth overall-two points behind Bala). In 391 career pro games, Marshall has 195 points (95g-100a) and 275 penalty minutes.

- Defenseman Bryant Molle recorded his thirteen assist and fourteenth point-both of which are career highs for him-in last night's game.

- Ian Watters recorded his twentieth point of the season (4g-16a=20pts in 39 games) by registering an assist on Marshall's goal last night.

- Although goaltender Connor Knapp made 25 saves on 27 shots last night, he had his personal nine game unbeaten streak (8-0-1-0) snapped in Kalamazoo. Overall this season, Knapp has compiled a record of 17-8-1-0 with a 2.71 goals against average and a .911 save percentage.

- Reading's penalty kill got touched up for a power play goal against for the third straight game last night. The PK has now given up at least one PPGA in four of the last five games. Reading is killing at a 77.3% ratio during that time span (5 PPGAs in 22 chances for the opposition).

- The Royals power play was blanked in three chances with the man advantage last night-including two in the third period (and one with just 3:12 remaining in the game). That marked the twenty-third time this season that Reading's power play has been held off the board. The team has compiled a 17-6-0-0 record in those games. Last night's game marked the first time since the 4-0 loss to the Elmira Jackals on December 31, 2014, that Reading's PP was held off the board and the team lost.

- One of the empty-netters scored by the K-Wings last night was a short-handed ENG. That marked the ninth short-handed goal of the year given up by the Royals, which is tied for fifth most in the league.

Royals Recent Transactions

02/09/15 Delete G Martin Ouellette Recalled to Lehigh Valley (AHL)

Add G Connor Knapp Loaned from Lehigh Valley (AHL)

02/11/15 Delete F Domenic Monardo Recalled to Springfield (AHL)

Add F Ian Watters Activated from ECHL Reserve

02/12/15 Delete F Matt Hatch Placed on ECHL Reserve

02/14/15 Delete F Andrew Johnston Placed on ECHL Reserve

Add F Kevin Sullivan Activated from ECHL Reserve

02/15/15 Delete D Zach Davies Placed on ECHL Reserve

Add F Andrew Johnston Activated from ECHL Reserve

02/20/15 Delete F Ryan Cruthers Placed on ECHL Reserve

Delete D Zach Davies Placed on 21-Day Injured Reserve

Delete F Cam Reid Loaned to Bridgeport (AHL)

NEXT UP FOR THE ROYALS

Reading Royals v Greenville Road Warriors

@ Santander Arena - Reading, PA

Friday, February 27, 2015 (7:30 pm Eastern Time)

NEXT UP: The Royals return home to Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania, where the team will face the Greenville Road Warriors on Friday, February 27 (@ 7:30 pm). That night, fans will have an opportunity to meet Dennis Haskins, who played 'Mr. Belding' on the classic sitcom 'Saved by the Bell'. The first 1500 fans 15 years of age and older will also receive a t-shirt honoring goaltender Philipp Grubauer for our Free Shirt Friday giveaway presented by V&M Towing. The game night broadcast for Friday's matchup can be heard live on CBS SportsRadio 1240 am and 98.5 in Reading, Pennsylvania, starting with the pre-game warm-up show presented by Highmark Blue Shield at 7:00 pm Eastern Time. Streaming audio is available free of charge on the Royals' website (follow the 'headset' icon); and streaming video is available on a pay-per-view basis through ECHL.TV.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 21, 2015


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