Royals Burned by Red-Hot Komets, 7-2

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (Loss, 10-7-1-0=21) 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 Fort Wayne Komets (Win, 8-7-1-3=20), 7-2, at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania.

In a game that started bad and only got worse as time went on, the Royals gave up a season high seven goals against in virtually every conceivable manner—even strength, short-handed, power play, four-on-four—and dropped back to 5-5-0-0 on home ice with the team’s second straight loss at Santander Arena.

The Komets got all they would need by building a 3-0 first period lead on an even strength high laser from the mid-slot by Scott Flemming 9:16 in; a short-handed breakaway by Chris Auger at 16:28; and a beautiful power play wrist-pass re-direct by Brandon Marino at 18:43.

Reading broke through on the team’s third power play chance of the night 15:46 into the second period. Louie Caporusso worked a beautiful goal-line give-and-go with T.J. Syner, which Caporusso finished for his fourth of the year.

Fort Wayne blew up the Royals’ hope for a third period come-back with a four goal explosion in the final period. The Komets took a 4-1 lead when Mike Vaskivuo sprang Mickey Lang on long breakaway for his league leading fifteenth of the year 4:29 into the third. Things devolved from there with Fort Wayne bagging three more goals in a span of 3:03, starting at the 7:14 mark of the third with the second of the night for Auger, followed in short order with goals by Vaskivuo and a second for Marino. The Royals sandwiched in a goal on a back-hand by Ned Lukacevic after a perfect feed from Ryan Cruthers (who picked up two assists on the night) at the 9:19 mark of the third; but that was way too little to stem the tide in this one which overwhelmed the Royals with the team’s most lopsided loss of the year.

The Royals are off until next Friday (December 13, 2013 @ 7:05 pm) when the Florida Everblades make their only appearance of the year to Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania.  Friday’s game night broadcast on CBS Sports Radio 1240 am and 98.5 will kick off with the Highmark Blue Shield Warm-Up Show at 6:35 pm.

End 13 12-07