Royals Late Push Falls Short Against Trenton, 6-4

Reading Scores Early and Scores Late but Stumbles in Between as Eight Game Win Streak Snapped

Reading, PA– The Reading Royals of the ECHL (46-19-3-3=98, 1st Atlantic Conference, 1st Eastern Conference), affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, were defeated by the Trenton Titans at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania, 6-4. The Royals scored early—fifteen seconds in—and scored late—with 27.2 seconds in left in regulation to draw within one at 5-4; but gave up four straight in the middle of the game to the Titans, who stretched their winning streak to four games. For the Royals, the loss snapped an eight game win streak and prevented the Royals from reaching the 100 points in the standings for the first time in team history. After Kirk MacDonald bagged his sixteenth of the year right off the face-off to start play, the Titans notched the next four, including a short-handed goal by Kory Nagy 14:47 into the first to give Trenton a lead (2-1) they would never relinquish. The Titans built a 4-1 lead through two periods against goaltender Brandon Anderson (no decision, 14/18, 40:00), who got his first start since February 23. But goaltender Riley Gill (loss, 10-3-0-0, 14/15, 18:29) came on in substitution in the third; and the Royals responded with back-to-back goals from Barry Almeida and Stan Galiev to pull within one four minutes into the final stanza. But the Titans got what proved to be the game winner—and made Gill the hard-luck loser—when Shane Harper, who racked up three points (2g-1a), punched a rebound back home 11:27 into the third. Reading didn’t give up, however, drawing back within one on at 5-4 on Almeida’s second power play goal of the night with just 27.2 seconds left in regulation with the goaltender pulled and the sixth attacker on the ice. Reading generated another scoring golden chance on a point blank look from Kirk MacDonald with just 16.8 seconds left; but Trenton’s Scott Wedgewood (win, 20-21-3-2, 25/29) made a brilliant stop to reject the bid to tie things up. The Titans’ Jesse Todd bagged an empty netter with just 9.1 seconds left to ice things. The Royals close out the regular season on Saturday (March 30 @ 7:05 pm) when the Elmira Jackals visit Sovereign Center in Reading, PA. That night, which is Fan Appreciation Night, the first 5000 fans will get a rally towel courtesy of Habitat for Humanity of Berks County. The Royals, Diamond Credit Union and Bob Fisher Chevrolet will give away a car—a new Chevy Spark—to some lucky fan. Saturday’s Game Night Broadcast will kick off on CBS Sports Radio 1240 am and 98.5 fm at 6:35 pm with the Pre-Game Warm-Up Show presented by Steve Moyer Subaru. Royals Kelly Cup Playoff tickets are now on sale. The Eastern Conference Quarterfinals are tentatively scheduled to start at Sovereign Center in Reading, PA, on Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6. More information is available at 610-898-7825 and through the Royals website: www.royalshockey.com. Don't forget to "Like" us on Facebook at Reading Royals and "Follow" us on Twitter @RRoyalshockey for the latest team information.