Royals Finish Regular Series Perfect for Elmira, 6-3

Elmira, NY – The Reading Royals (win, 42-21-2-1=87) of the ECHL, affiliate of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League and the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League, defeated the Elmira Jackals (loss, 22-35-3-5= 52), 6-3, at First Arena in Elmira, New York.

The Royals fell behind in the first, but pulled off the team’s sixteenth come-from-behind win of the year in the sixteenth and final game of the regular season series between Reading and Elmira, in which the Royals won the final eleven in a row and finished 14-2-0-0. Reading also won all seven games played on Elmira’s home ice this season. With this win, Reading pushed the team’s record to a season high twenty-one games over .500 and remained in first place in the Eastern Conference.

Elmira struck first 13:10 into the game after a wild multi-chance rebound scramble around Reading’s net, Danny Hobbs was able to force the third rebound bid under and through goaltender Brandon Anderson (win, 22-9-1-0, 30/33) for his seventeenth of the year.

Later in the period it was the Royals turn to get a rebound goal after a shot by Bryant Molle from the left point was blockered down by goaltender Neil Conway (loss, 8-9-1-2, 28/33, 1 eng); however, the rebound fell to the left side of the crease, where Kevin Walrod battled for the loose puck and punched it home for his sixth of the year 18:08 into the first.

Reading exploded for three in the second. The first came on the team’s second power play chance of the game when Ryan Cruthers tried to fire a pass through the middle of the Jackals’ penalty killing formation. The puck ricocheted off an Elmira shin-pad and went right up the gut of the slot where Marvin Degon stepped in to rip his sixth of the season behind Conway 6:40 into the second frame.

The Royals took a 3-1 lead forty-two seconds later when Degon fired a hot, low rocket that T.J. Syner, who had the inside track at the top of the left side of the crease, redirected by Conway for his eighteenth of the year.

18:08 into the second it was Domenic Monardo’s turn to redirect one home from the top of the crease after a beautiful tic-tac-toe zig-zag cross-ice passing sequence starting with T.J. Syner to Matt Campanle and finishing with Monardo’s team leading twenty-sixth of the year.

Reading pushed the lead to 5-1 7:21 into the third, when Brandon Blandina slipped one to Jesse Todd, who was charging off the rush through the left circle. Todd fired a snapper across the body of Conway—glove side—for his fifth goal in his last six games.

Elmira made a game of it with back-to-back goals in the third. The first coming off a hard snap shot from the high slot by Corey Bellamy that beat Anderson over his left shoulder for Bellamy’s first of the year 14:28 into the third.

2:43 after that the Jackals made it 5-3 with a five-on-three power play back-door slam dunk by Artem Demkov for his fifteen of the year.

But a short-handed empty netter by Brandon Blandina with just 50.1 seconds left in regulation iced the Royals twenty-first road win of the year (21-11-1-0).

The Royals return to action next Wednesday (April 2 @ 7:05 pm) when the Orlando Solar Bears make their only regular season appearance at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania. That night, the first 3000 fans will receive a Team Picture courtesy of the Reading Eagle, which fans will have an opportunity to get signed in a post-game autograph session. The Royals also offer the Steak-Umm Burger Meal and Ticket on Wednesday nights where fans can get a Purple Zone ticket, a Steak-umm Burger, fries and a large soda for just $20.00. There will also be select draft beer for just $2.50. The game night broadcast on Wednesday will kick off at 6:35 pm on CBS Sports Radio 1240 am and 98.5 fm with the Pre-Game Warm-Up Show presented by Highmark Blue Shield.

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