Royals Battle Back Twice But Fall in OT in Elmira, 3-2

Teams     Per: 1          2          3          OT

REA:              0          1          1          0 = 2

ELM:              0          1          1          1 = 3 

Records

REA:  6-5-1-0=13 (5th East Division)

ELM: 8-3-0-3=19 (2nd East Division)

Goaltenders

REA: Ouellette (OTL) 3-3-1-0 (20/23) (61:44)

ELM:  Fullerton (Win) 6-2-0-2 (29/31) (61:44)

Power Play:

REA: 1-8

ELM: 0-3

Elmira, NY – The Reading Royals (­­­­­­­­­OTL, 6-5-1-0=13) of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League, were defeated by the Elmira Jackals  (win, 8-3-0-3=19), in overtime, 3-2, at First Arena in Elmira, New York.

The Royals came out with a somewhat sluggish start and had to battle back from two separate deficits to earn a point against the Jackals, who ran their home record to 6-1-0-1; but Reading had ample opportunity to win this one, including eight power plays—four of which came on two separate double-minors for high-sticking assessed against the Jackals. The second of those double-minors was assessed late in the game and carried over into the overtime session. Although Reading did bag the third period game-tying goal while playing with the man advantage, the Royals were unable to make the most of their chances with the man advantage. Lady puck-luck wasn’t really the Royals’ friend in this one, either, as the team clanged at least four pipes, including two in overtime—either one of which could have brought this matter to a more favorable conclusion for Reading.

First Period (0-0, Tie)

NO SCORING

After generating nineteen first period shots in the team’s last game on Sunday in Toledo, the Royals were only able to muster five period shots in Elmira, despite having three power plays, which included a double minor for high sticking assessed against the Jackals. On the other hand, Elmira generated several quality chances, but goaltender Martin Ouellette picked up right where he left off on Sunday—answering those chances with big saves.

Second Period (1-1, Tie)

1:36 (1-0, Elmira) Elmira Goal

Nesbitt (3); unassisted (snap shot off the rush0

Directly after what appeared to be the best scoring chance of the game for Reading, the Jackals’ Thomas Nesbitt converted the play into a semi-breakaway. Nesbitt, a right shot forward, carried deep down the left wing side and drilled a snapper from inside the dot in the left circle. The puck appeared to glance off the right shoulder of Ouellette and sneak below the bar to give the Jackals the 1-0 lead.

6:15 (1-1, Tie) Reading Goal

Mullane (5); Watters and Wiles (rebound backhand from top of right side of crease)

The Royals finally broke through on goaltender Travis Fullerton on a multi-shot rebound opportunity created when Ian Watters weaved his way into the low slot for a tight shot. Fullerton rejected that effort and the rebound bid from Wiles, but Pat Mullane took a back-hand whack at the second rebound and drilled the puck over Fullerton for his fifth of the season.

Third Period (2-2, Tie)

4:47  (1-2, Elmira) Elmira Goal (Penalty Shot)

Jacobs (2) (five-hole snapper)

Shortly after serving a minor penalty, Colin Jacobs came out of the penalty box and caught the Royals in a change that resulted in a clean break for him through the left side of the slot. A Reading defender upended Jacobs on the break, and he was awarded a penalty shot. Jacobs did not waste the opportunity, carrying down the right side of the slot, and snapping a shot from ten feet out that beat Ouellette five-hole for the second penalty shot goal of the year by the Jackals against the Royals in First Arena.

11:38 (2-2, Tie) Reading Goal (Power Play)

Reid (6); Hughesman and Marcou (walk the line and jam)

Seven seconds into the fifth power play chance of the night, Reading tied the game for the second time, when Mike Marcou passed to Adam Hughesman on the right half-wall. Hughesman slipped a pass down to the goal line where a waiting Cam Reid settled, walked the line and jammed it through Fullerton for his sixth of the season.

Overtime (3-2, Elmira)

1:44 (2-3, Elmira) Elmira Goal

McPherson (6); unassisted (rebound off the rush)

Reading had their chances to win it overtime. The Royals started the OT session with a 4-on-3 power play as Elmira’s Nick Tuzzolino was still serving 1:16 of a double minor for high sticking assessed against him late in the third. Right off the hop, David Marshall drilled a blast out of the right circle that beat Fullerton and clanged hard off the left pipe. Shortly after Tuzzolino came out of the penalty box, Ryan Cruthers drilled a snap shot from the top of the right circle that hit squarely on the cross-bar. Shortly after that, Elmira’s Allan McPherson took off on a rush. He carried through the right circle and snapped a low shot across the body of Oullette, who made a solid right pad save. However, the puck slid to the low slot, where it got caught up in the skates of a Reading defender, which allowed McPherson to step in and punch the rebound home for the overtime winner.

NOTES:

• The scratches for the Royals tonight were: Dan Ford (d) (healthy), Jordan Heywood (d) (healthy), Andrew Johnston (f) (healthy), and Matt Hatch (f) (injury).

• Cam Reid’s goal extended his personal point streak to eleven games (6g-8a), which is the longest point streak in the league this season.

• The penalty shot goal by Colin Jacobs was the second penalty shot scored on goaltender Martin Oullette in Elmira this season—in two games played by the Royals at First Arena. In the team’s first trip to Elmira (on October 24), Brayden Irwin scored a game-tying (at five-five) penalty shot goal on Oullette with just 53 seconds left in regulation. The Royals won that game 6-5 in a shootout.

• Olivier Labelle played in his 168th game as a Royal tonight, tying Rob LaLonde for the fourth most games in Royals’ history.

• The Royals have not allowed a power play goal against in three straight games, killing the last thirteen chances with the man advantage for the opposition.

NEXT UP FOR THE ROYALS

Reading Royals v Indy Fuel

@ Santander Arena – Reading, PA

Saturday, November 22, 2014 (7:05 pm)

NEXT UP: The Royals kick off a team-record ten game home stand tomorrow night (Saturday, November 22, at Santander Arena @ 7:05 pm) when the Royals host the historic Army – Navy Hockey Day, which is jam packed with activities all day long—including the Army-Navy game inside Santander Arena at 1:30 pm. The Royals are going to wear three different special jerseys in Saturday’s Veterans’ Appreciation Night game against Indy, and fans can bid on those jerseys in three different ways. The proceeds from the jersey auctions go to benefit local veteran and military personnel support causes, as well as Royals Charities. There will also be a food and clothing drive on Saturday conducted by ‘Veterans Making a Difference’. More information on all of the activities (including a full schedule of events) going on tomorrow at Santander Arena is available on the Royals website: www.royalshockey.com.

Please note that Saturday’s game day broadcast can be heard live on CBS SportsRadio 1240 am and 98.5 in Reading, Pennsylvania, starting with the pre-game warm-up show presented by Highmark Blue Shield at 6:35 pm. Streaming audio is available free of charge on the Royals’ website (follow the ‘headset’ icon); and streaming video is available on a pay-per-view basis through ECHL.TV.

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

End 14 11-16