Royals Can't Solve Cincinnati (Again), 4-1

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (loss, 10-6-0-0=20) of the ECHL, affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, were defeated by the Cincinnati Cyclones (11-6-0-0=22), 4-1, at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania.

For the second time in less than a week, the Cyclones struck first and built a 3-0 lead, which last Saturday Cincinnati held through the finish; but in this one, Reading put together a strong third period push that resulted in the Royals’ first goal of the year on the Cyclones. Nonetheless, that push proved too little too late as Reading’s four game home win streak fell.

Also, for the second time in less than a week, it was the former Royal Barry Almeida, who scored the game’s first goal. In tonight’s game, Almedia, who would once again (as he did last Saturday) end up with three points (1g-2a), charged into the offensive end and fired a hard snap shot from seven feet inside the blue line that blew by goaltender Brandon Anderson (loss, 4-3-0-0, 19/23) high stick side for his eighth of the season with just 48.9 seconds left in the first period.

The Cyclones got what would prove to be the game winner 3:48 into the second period. An aggressive fore-check forced a Royals’ turnover below the goal line, allowing Almeida to gain possession and slip a pass to the top of the crease, where Logan Shaw stepped in and slipped the puck under Anderson for his third of the year.

Cincinnati struck on the power play 9:40 into the second. Tyler Aronson slipped a pass to the top of the left circle, where a waiting Anthony Luciani fired a hard-one timer. Anderson made the save with his left shoulder but the rebound fell to the right side of the crease, where Trevor Lewis gained the inside track and punched it home for his second of the season.

The Royals broke up 110:50 of consecutive shutout streak against the Royals for Cincinnati goaltender Michael Houser (win, 3-3-0-0, 33/34), when Mike Banwell fired from the high slot. Houser made the save, but the puck rebounded to the top of the crease, where Ethan Cox forced it home for his second of the season 10:50 into the third.

However, the Cyclones re-gained their three goal cushion with 5:33 left in regulation. The puck was chipped into Reading’s defensive end, where a Royal defender appeared poised to take possession; but he was pick-pocketed from behind mid-way into the right circle by Adam Brace, who quickly fired a bullet across the body of Anderson for his first of the year. That would pretty much do it for the Royals, who fell to 5-4-0-0 through nine games on home ice.

The Royals are off until next Friday (December 6 @ 7:00 pm), when the team will travel to WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia, where the team will face the Wheeling Nailers. That night, the pre-game warm-up show presented by Highmark Blue Shield will kick off at 6:30 pm on CBS Sports Radio 1240 am and 98.5 fm on the Royals Broadcast Network. As with all Royals road games this season, Friday’s game will be televised locally in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on BCTV courtesy of Boscov’s Travel and Apple Vacations.

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