Royals Burned by High-Flying First-Place Komets, 4-3

Teams     Per: 1          2          3

FTW:              1          2          1 = 4

REA:              2          0          1 = 3

Records

REA:  3-4-0-0=6 (T-6 East Division)

FTW: 7-1-0-0=14 (1st North Division)

Goaltenders

REA: Knapp (Loss) (2-2-0-0) (30/34)

FTW: Nagle (Win) (5-1-0-0) (25/28)

Power Play:

REA: 0-5

FTW: 0-4

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (­­­­­­­­­loss, 3-4-0-0=6) of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League, were defeated by the Fort Wayne Komets  (win, 7-1-0-0=14), 4-3, at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania.

In a rematch of the 2014 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal playoff matchup (won by Fort Wayne), the Komets got the better of this one (again) scoring first and then coming back from a one-goal deficit—not without a significant psychological lift from a short-handed goal with just 1:20 remaining in the second period to regain the lead at 3-2. A third period two-on-one break expanded that lead to two goals (4-2) and proved to be the game winner when the Royals  notched a short-handed goal of their own with 7:18 remaining in regulation. The Royals, who created their own misery with costly turnovers and lapses in defensive coverages (and were unable to capitalize on a lengthy five-on-three power play chance—for the third time this season—in the third period), also created a flurry of scoring chances in the waning moments with the goaltender pulled, but were never able to get the equalizer.

First Period (2-1, Reading)

14:28 (0-1) Fort Wayne Goal

Heard (6); Lacasse and Barteaux (snap shot off the rush from twenty-one feet)

The Komets struck first when the Royals employed an aggressive neutral zone fore-check to stymie a Fort Wayne rush, but unfortunately quickly coughed up the puck in the center circle, allowing Mitchell Heard to take off and beat everyone into the Royals’ defensive zone. Heard didn’t waste the chance, ripping a hot rivet low blocker on goaltender Connor Knapp for his sixth of the season.

14:47 (1-1) Reading Goal

Reid (3); Hughesman and Labelle (walk out and jam at right side of net)

The Royals bounced back nineteen seconds later, when Cam Reid walked off the end wall and forced his way to the right side of the Komet net where he pin-balled one between the legs of goaltender Pat Nagle to extend his personal point streak to six straight (3g-5a=8pts).

15:55 (2-1) Reading Goal

Marcou (2); Molle and Marshall (slap shot from right point)

1:08 after that, Reading took what would prove to be the team’s only lead of the game, when defenseman Mike Marcou drilled a low, hard slap shot from the wide right point that threaded through a maze of players in front of the Komets’ net and between the legs of Nagle for his second of the year.

Second Period (3-2, Fort Wayne)

11:34 (2-2) Fort Wayne Goal

Frazee (3); Heard and Lacasse (snap shot from low left circle)

The Komets re-tied the game about mid-way through when Heard corralled the puck below the goal line and slipped a perfect pass into the left circle where Thomas Frazee found a soft seam. Frazee wasted no time, quickly snapping a hard shot from twelve feet blocker side on Knapp for his third of the season.

18:40 (2-3) Fort Wayne Goal (Short-Handed)

Embach (3); Szydlowski and Martin (snap shot from right side of the slot)

Fort Wayne stuck a dagger in Reading’s collective heart with just 1:20 remaining in the second period while the Royals were working on their second power play of the night. After losing a puck battle in the offensive zone, the Royals’ found themselves chasing a short-handed rush for the Komets. The Reading defenders failed to tighten the gap on Szydlowski who carried deep into the right circle before finding Mike Embach, who was cutting left-to-right through the mid-slot. Embach settled and fired back against the grain on Knapp for his third of the year.

Third Period (3-4, Fort Wayne)

8:48 (2-4) Fort Wayne Goal

Crowder (2); Severyn and Pistilli (two-on-one break, snap shot from low right side of slot)

Fort Wayne got what proved to be the game winner shortly after the Royals generated a flurry of scoring chances in the offensive end. The Komets counter-punched and caught Reading flat-footed, as Matthew Pistilli sprang C.J. Severyn and Paul Crowder on a two-on-one break. Severyn drew the attention of the Royals’ lone defender as he skated down the left side into the offensive zone and then slid a cross-slot feed to the charging Crowder, who buried a bullet behind Knapp for his second of the year.

12:42 (3-4) Reading Goal (Short-Handed)

Wiles (2); Lamarche and Mullane (sixteen foot snap shot from left side of the slot)

Reading made a game of it with a short-handed goal of their own. Maxim Lamarche gained possession in the neutral zone and sprang Sean Wiles on a break at the offensive blue line. Wiles chose an angle, blew by a Komet defender, and snapped a fluttering puck into the upper right corner of the net for his second of the year.

NOTES:

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

• The short-handed goal by Fort Wayne was the second SHG of the season allowed by the Royals. In the season opening game against the Wheeling Nailers, Reading gave up what proved to be the game inning goal while playing with the man advantage with just thirty-six seconds left in the second period.

• Adam Hughesman extended his personal point streak to six games (3g-6a=9pts).

• Olivier Labelle recorded his 137th point as a Royal tonight (73g-64a) in his 163rd game with the team. Labelle is two points behind Brad Rooney to become the fourth leading scorer in team history. His 163 games with the team surpasses Malcolm MacMillan for fourth all-time in that category.

NEXT UP FOR THE ROYALS

Reading Royals v Fort Wayne Komets

@ Santander Arena, Reading, PA

Saturday, November 8, 2014 (7:05 pm)

NOTES ON NEXT HOME GAME

NEXT UP: The Royals and Komets meet for the final time of the regular season tomorrow night (Saturday, November 8 @ 7:05 pm). It is Superhero Night at Santander Arena when fans will be able to meet and greet Captain America, Ironman, and Thor!

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

End 14 11-07