Royals Score Late PP Goal to Win Game Four, 3-2

Joel Champagne Breaks a 2-2 Tie with a Late Power Play Game Winner to Give Reading 3 Games to 1 Lead in ECF

Cincinnati, OH– The Reading Royals of the ECHL, affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, won Game Four of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Final match-up against the Cincinnati Cyclones, 3-2, at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. Joel Champagne bagged a late third-period tie-breaking game winner to give the Royals a three games to one lead over the Cyclones in the ECF. For the first time in the series, Reading struck first—this one on the first shot of the game twenty-one seconds in. Mark Mitera activated down the right wing wall to keep a puck deep. Kirk MacDonald dug it out of the right wing corner and fed it to the low slot where Alex Berry was wide open for a snapper, which beat Michael Houser (loss, 9-4-3, 21/24) and proved to be Berry’s fifth of the playoff season. The Royals then capitalized on their fourth shot of the game in similar fashion—off a strong forecheck. This one started was by Nikita Kashirsky who freed T.J. Syner behind the Cyclone net. Syner in turn found Evan Barlow at the top of the crease a quick shot that beat Houser to give the Royals a 2-0 lead 1:02 into the contest. For Barlow, that proved to be his fifth of the playoff season. The Cyclones got on the board 14:51 into the second period when John MacFarland fired from the point. With heavy traffic out front, goaltender Riley Gill (win, 8-2-1, ) got a chuck of the puck, but it trickled through at sat just above the goal line for a moment before Dan Eves reached around and tapped it home for his second of the playoff season. Cincinnati tied the game at two 11:09 into the third, while on the power play, when Mike Pelech ripped one from deep right side that slipped through a maze of traffic and eked through the short-side for Pelech’s fourth of the playoff season. Reading got another miracle finish, albeit in regulation this, when a late-game high sticking infraction was assessed against Josh Shalla of the Cyclones at 18:23 of the third. The Royals power play, which had sputtered all game long—which included having major power play 1:15 into the game—came through late after a wild scramble around the Cyclone net. That scramble ended when Yannick Tifu sent one from the low slot that was apparently deflected by Joel Champagne on the way in to win it with just 11.1 seconds left. The Royals and Cyclones play Game Five of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals tomorrow (Saturday, May 11 @ 7:35 pm) at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. 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 7:05 pm. As with all Royals road games this season, Saturday’s game will be televised locally in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on BCTV courtesy of Boscov’s Travel and Apple Vacations. Ticket information for the ECHL’s Eastern Conference Finals matchup between the Reading Royals and the Cincinnati Cyclones can be obtained by calling the Royals office (610-898-PUCK) or by logging onto 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 FINALS(1) Reading Royals v (2) Cincinnati Cyclones READING LEADS SERIES THREE GAMES TO ONEGame One: Reading 5 – Cincinnati 4 Double-OT (Sovereign Center, Reading, PA)Game Two: Reading 3 – Cincinnati 2 OT (Sovereign Center, Reading, PA)Game Three: Cincinnati 3 – Reading 2 OT (US Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH)Game Four: Reading 3 – Cincinnati 2 (US Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH)Game Five: Saturday, May 11 (7:35 pm) at U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OHGame Six (IF NECESSARY): Monday, May 13 (7:05 pm) at Sovereign Center, Reading, PAGame Seven (IF NECESSARY): Tuesday, May 14 (7:05 pm) at Sovereign Center, Reading, PA