Royals Even Series with Win Over Florida, 3-2

Reading Scores First and Never Trails In Dramatic Win at Sovereign Center

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, won Game Two of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semi-Final match-up against the Florida Everblades, 3-2, at Sovereign Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. The series is tied at one game apiece. Reading scored 8:14 into the game, when Kirk MacDonald converted a turnover by the Everblades at the defensive blue line into a short-handed breakaway. MacDonald went forehand-backhand for his first of the playoff season. The Royals stretched the lead to two on the team’s first power play chance of the night. Yannick Tifu drilled a snapper from the top of the left circle that blew by heavy traffic and goaltender Jesse Deckert (loss, 5-3-0, 11/14 in 20:18) for Tifu’s seventh of the playoff season. Florida got on the board 15:59 into the first when David Rutherford slipped through three Reading defenders and slid one under goaltender Mark Owuya (win, 3-1-0, 15/17) from in tight for his third of the playoff season. The Royals bounced back with what proved to be the game winner eighteen seconds into the second period, when Brett Flemming fired a pass from deep on the right side that ricocheted off the leg of Tifu and by Deckert for Tifu’s third multi-goal game in seven played in the playoffs. The Everblades substituted goaltender Brady Hjelle (no decision, 26/26 in 38:21) at that point. He stabilized the ship; and gave Florida a chance to draw within one on a power play goal with just 4:24 remaining in regulation on a one-timer by Corey Trivino. But, despite some late game fireworks, that would be it for Florida. The Royals and Everblades play Game Three of the best of seven Eastern Conference Semi-Finals on Wednesday, April 24 @7:30 pm at Germain Arena in Estero, Florida. Wednesday’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 7:00 pm. As with all Royals’ road games, Wednesday’s game will be televised locally in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on BCTV courtesy of Boscov’s Travel and Apple Vacations. 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 BEST OF SEVEN SERIES IS TIED ONE GAME APIECEGame One: Florida 4 – Reading 3 (Sovereign Center, Reading, PA)Game Two: Reading 3 – Florida 2 (Sovereign Center, Reading, PA)Game 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: 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