Royals Get a Halloween Treat in the Form of a Win Over Wheeling, 3-1

Teams     Per: 1          2          3

WHL:             0          0          1 = 1

REA:              1          0          2 = 3

Records

REA:  3-2-0-0=6 (t-3rd East Division)

ELM: 2-2-0-0=4 (t-3rd North Division)

Goaltenders

REA: Knapp (Win) (2-1-0-0) (29/30)

WHL: Palazzese (Loss) (2-2-0-0) (19/22)

Power Play:

REA: 0-5

ELM: 0-3

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (­­­­­­­­­win, 3-2-0-0=6) of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League, defeated the Wheeling Nailers  (loss, 2-2-0-0=4), 3-1, at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania.

The Royals scored on the team’s first shift—thirty-four seconds into the game—and then survived a relentless Wheeling attack thanks to solid net-minding by Connor Knapp and a little bit of puck-luck, which held out just long enough to allow the Royals to bag a pair of goals in the third, which provided a sufficient cushion. The Nailers finally broke through with just 1:24 left, but the Royals held on to avenge the season opening loss to Wheeling.

First Period (0-1, Reading)

0:34 (1-0) Reading Goal

Hughesman (2); Molle and Marshall (snap shot from right circle)

In contrast to Sunday’s loss to the Elmira Jackals—when the Jackals scored thirty-four seconds into the game—it was the Royals who scored thirty-four seconds into tonight’s game. Right off the opening face-off, Reading came out with a strong push and all guns blazing. David Marshall forced a turnover below the goal line with a physical fore-check and got the puck up high to defenseman Bryant Molle, who (in turn) fed Adam Hughesman in the right circle. Hughesman’s hard low shot beat Franky Palazzese stick side to post the Royals to an early 1-0 lead.

Second Period (1-0, Reading)

No Scoring

Third Period (3-1, Reading)

6:30 (2-0, Reading) Reading Goal

Marshall (1); Heywood and Higgs (deflection of a slap shot from right point)

Reading got what proved to be the game winner 6:30 into the final frame when Jordan Heywood fired a long slap shot from the wide right point. The puck struck the skate of forward David Marshall, which cause a favorable re-direction for the Royals as it slipped by Palazzese along the ice to the stick side.

10:54 (3-0, Reading) Reading Goal

Labelle (2); Reid and Hughesman (rebound batted out of mid-air)

Reading built three goal advantage mid-way into the third, when Cam Reid fired a hot rivet from point blank range. Palazzese made the save, but the puck fluttered to the right side of the crease, where a crashing Olivier Labelle batted the puck out of mid-air and into the net for his second of the year.

18:36 (3-1, Reading) Wheeling Goal

Gill (2); MacKay and Seymour (defensive zone turnover turns into a surge down the slot and five-hole goal)

The Nailers foiled Connor Knapp’s shutout bid with just 1:24 remaining. Defenseman Jordan Heywood attempted a hard clear from the defensive zone, but the puck ricocheted off the toe of Nailer skate and went directly to Sahir Gill, who was able to carry down the slot, walk around Heywood and slip a shot through the legs of a sprawling Knapp for his second of the year.

NOTES:

• Adam Hughesman (1g-1a) is riding a four game point and assist streak (2g-5a=7pts). Tonight marked his third multi-point performance in five games played with the Royals.

• Scratches for the Royals tonight: Adam Comrie (d) (lower body injury), Dan Ford (d) (healthy), and Kevin Walrod (f) (21-Day IR), and Justin Daniels (healthy).

• Olivier Labelle’s goal pushed his all-time team career leading goals total to 73—two ahead of teammate Ryan Cruthers.

• This marks the third consecutive season in which David Marshall has scored at least one goal as a Royal.

• Tonight marked the first time this season that the Royals’ power play was held off the board—despite having 1:15 of five-on-three late in the second and early in the third.

• Tonight’s game also marked the first time in five games that the Royals penalty killers did not give up a goal against

The Royals now travel to WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia, where the team will take on the Nailers this Saturday (November 1 @ 7:35 pm). Saturday’s game will be broadcast live on CBS SportsRadio 1240 am and 98.5 fm in Reading. Fans can also listen to the free internet broadcast by following the ‘headset icon’ on the Royals’ website. Saturday’s game will also be televised locally in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on BCTV courtesy of Boscov’s Travel and Apple Vacations. Streaming video is also available on a pay-per-view basis at ECHL.TV.

For more information about the Royals, call 610-898-7825 or log onto www.royalshockey.com.

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