Royals Take Home Opener Over Elmira, 5-1

Teams     Per: 1          2          3

ELM:              0          0          1 = 1

REA:              1          3          1 = 5

Records

REA:  2-1-0-0=4 (East Division)

ELM: 1-2-0-1=3 (East Division)

Goaltenders

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

ELM:  Fullerton (Loss) (1-2-0-1) (22/27)

Power Play:

REA: 1-5

ELM: 1-3

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (­­­­­­­­­win, 2-1-0-0=4) 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 Elmira Jackals  (loss, 1-2-0-1=3), 5-1, in the Royals’ home opener at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Reading used the energy of a big crowd (6352), a brand new four-sided center hung state-of-the art LED scoreboard, a couple of early tilts and five goals from five different players to pull away from the Jackals in the second of three consecutive games between the two teams. The Royals built a comfortable (4-0) cushion entering the third period; and, despite giving up a power play goal to the Jackals relatively early in the third, were able to use a sound, simple approach—and a power play goal of their own—to prevent the late third period semi-meltdown that the team experienced on Friday in Elmira. Goaltender Connor Knapp displayed a calm and controlled style to pick up his first win as a Royal.

First Period (1-0, Reading)

16:50 (1-0) Reading Goal

Labelle (1); Hughesman and Reid (rebound from right side of the crease)

Reading broke through with in the latter stages of the first period when Adam Hughesman fired a hard snap shot from point blank range that Elmira goaltender, Travis Fullerton, fought off. The rebound, however, fell to the right side of the crease, where Reading’s Olivier Labelle had the inside track for a slam dunk to record his first goal of the year—but his 72nd as a Royals, making him the team’s all-time leader in that category.

Second Period (4-0, Reading)

4:18 (2-0, Reading) Reading Goal

Reid (1); unassisted (snap shot from the high slot)

The Royals made it 2-0 when Cam Reid collected a puck in the neutral zone, weaved his way into the offensive end and wired a bullet over the catching hand of Fullerton for his first of the year.

8:38 (3-0, Reading) Reading Goal

Higgs (1); Watters and Mathers (redirect from top of the crease—five hole)

Reading built a three-goal lead when Ian Watters tracked a loose puck deep in the right corner of the offensive zone. Watters fired a cross-ice feed to the top of the crease, where a charging Brock Higgs re-directed the puck between the legs of Fullerton for his first of the season.

10:53 (4-0, Reading) Reading Goal

Mullane (3); Labelle and Comrie (wrist shot from eight feet)

The Royals stretched the lead to four when Pat Mullane carried deep into the offensive zone through the left circle and used Ryan Cruthers who was driving down the right side of the slot as a decoy. When Fullerton over-committed towards Cruthers, Mullane fired a snapper from just off the top of the crease through him for his third in three games.

Third Period (5-1, Reading)

2:35 (4-1, Reading) Elmira Goal (Power Play)

Irwin (2); Alber and Shamanski (one-time bullet off the wide left circle)

Elmira broke through on their third power play of the night. Patch Alber set one on a tee for Brayden Irwin, who was planted on the wide hash-mark in the left circle. The right shooting forward uncorked a bomb across the body of Knapp for his second in two games against Reading.

4:49 (5-1, Reading) Reading Goal (Power Play)

Davies (2); Comrie and Mullane

The Royals rebuilt the four goal advantage with a power play goal of their own. Adam Comrie fired a hot rocket from the high slot. Fullerton made the save but the puck fell to the right side of the crease where Zach Davies was planted to punch home his second power play goal of the year.

NOTES:

• The Royals have defeated the Jackals in thirteen consecutive matchups dating to December 26, 2013. This was the 100th matchup in the respective histories of the two teams. Reading has compiled a record of 55-37-8 against Elmira.

• Scratches for the Royals tonight: Dan Ford (d) (healthy), Jordan Heywood (d) (healthy), Kevin Walrod (f) (21-Day IR), Mike Marcou (healthy), and David Marshall (f) (upper body injury).

• Labelle’s 72 goal came in his 159th game with the team. He is now three games behind Malcolm MacMillan for fourth most games played with the Royals. Labelle has 133 points with the team (72g-61a).

• Pat Mullane has scored a goal in each of the three games he’s played as a Royal.

• The Royals have compiled a historical record of 6-6-0-2 in home openers in the fourteen year history of the team.

• Tonight was Larry Courville’s 401st regular season game as the Royals’ head coach. He has compiled a record of 226-141-34.

Next Up for Reading: Sunday, October 26 (@5:05 pm) against the Elmira Jackals at Santander Arena in Reading, PA. As with all Sunday games this season, fans can park for free at the RPA parking garages around Santander Arena. The first 2500 fans on Sunday will receive a schedule magnet courtesy of Deibler Dental. Sunday is also a Berks Packing Dollar Day ($1 hotdogs, soda, popcorn and nachos). Fans can also bring their own skates and skate with the players after Sunday’s game.

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

End 14 10-25