Royals Drop Game One of Eastern Conference Semis to Florida, 4-3

Reading Never Able to Fully Battle Back from Two Separate Two-Goal Deficits

Reading, PA– The Reading Royals of the, affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, were defeated in Game One of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semi-Final match-up against the Florida Everblades, 4-3, at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Florida leads the second round series one game to none. The Everblades struck first 13:55 into the game on a back-hand by A.J. Jenks, who stole at the offensive blue line, cut down the slot and fired back against the grain—high stick side—on Royals’ goaltender Riley Gill (loss, 2-1-0, 14/18). Florida took a two goal lead with 12.2 seconds left in the first, when Reading got beat back down ice on a transition rush, and Brayden Irwin found Adam Brace coming down the gut for a low shot that snuck through Gill. Reading bounced back to tie with back-to-back goals early in the second. Stan Galiev buried the rebound of a Yannick Tifu shot eight seconds in; and Tifu banked one off the back of Jesse Deckert (win, 5-2-0, 34/37) from below the goal line while the Royals were on the power play 4:34 into the second. But shortly after that, Reading squandered a minute of five-on-three; and 9:58 into the second the Everblades re-took a lead they would never relinquish with a sixth attacker goal—on a delayed penalty against Reading—with a deflection by Mathieu Roy. Florida stretched the lead back to two (at 4-2) 5:28 into the third, when they capitalized on a five-on-three power play chance of their own. After a scramble around Reading’s net, Matthew Pistilli settled and ripped with Gill down and out of position. Reading drew within one when Tifu finished on a two-on-one break with Galiev for his second of the game—and sixth of the playoff season—with 6:26 left in regulation; but that would be it for the Royals, who lost for the first time on home ice in this playoff season. The Royals and Everblades play Game Two of the best of seven Eastern Conference Semi-Finals tomorrow (Saturday, April 20 @7:05 pm) at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Saturday’s game night broadcast on CBS Sports Radio 1240 am and 98.5 fm will kick off with the pre-game warm-up show presented by Steve Moyer Subaru at 6:35 pm. 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. EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS(1) Reading Royals v (4) Florida Everblades FLORIDA LEADS SERIES ONE GAME TO NONEGame One: Florida 4 – Reading 3 (Sovereign Center, Reading, PA)Game Two: Saturday, April 20 (7:05 pm) at Sovereign Center, Reading, PAGame Three: Wednesday, April 24 (7:30 pm) at Germain Arena, Estero, FLGame Four: Friday, April 26 (7:30 pm) at Germain Arena, Estero, FLGame Five (IF NECESSARY): Saturday, April 27 (7:00 pm) at Germain Arena, Estero, FLGame Six (IF NECESSARY): Tuesday, April 30 (7:05 pm) at Sovereign Center, Reading, PAGame Seven (IF NECESSARY): Wednesday, May 1 (7:05 pm) at Sovereign Center, Reading, PA