Royals Run Into a Wall (Again) in Adirondack, 3-0

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Teams     Per: 1          2          3

REA:              0          0          0=0

ADK:              0          2          1=3

Records

REA: 19-17-4-3 = 45 (t-3rd Place East Division)

ADK: 26-10-2-2 = 56 (2nd Place East Division)

Goaltenders

REA: Ouellette (LOSS) 8-8-2-0 (25/27) (57:43) (1 eng)

ADK: Simpson (WIN) 6-1-1-1 (42/42)

Power Play:

REA: 0-3

ADK: 0-0

Glens Falls, NY – The Reading Royals (Loss, 19-17-4-3=45) of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, were defeated by the Adirondack Thunder (Win, 26-10-2-2=56) of the ECHL, affiliate of the Calgary Flames, 3-0, at Glens Falls Civic Center.

For the fourth consecutive game against the Thunder, Reading heavily outshot Adirondack but ended up on the short-end of the scoresheet, getting shutout for the second consecutive time in Glens Falls Civic Center. Adirondack got all they would need on an ‘own-goal’ in the latter stages of the second period, although they did build a two-goal lead on a breakaway 1:28 later. That just seemed to further ignite an already aggressive Reading attack, but goaltender Kent Simpson—in his first game of the year against the Royals—and his defensive-minded buddies used everything (and some claimed to have seen a kitchen sink) available to keep the puck above the goal line.

After 34:03 of scoreless hockey, the Thunder broke through when Greg Wolfe carried deep down the right wing side. He was essentially neutralized to the wide side and corner by defenseman Todd Perry; but the Wolfe was able to shovel a back-hand to the top of the crease, where a back-checking Sam Windle unfortunately knocked it behind a defenseless Martin Ouellette, who had to commit to the right side of the net.

Undaunted, the Royals immediately attacked and created one of many potential Grade-A chances in and around the Adirondack net, but unfortunately the puck wouldn’t settle for Matt Hatch who was pretty much wide open at the top of the crease. Adirondack converted that missed chance into a 2-0 lead when they sprang Jeff Silengo, who got the edge on a Reading defender as he carried into the Royals’ end and broke clean on Ouellette. Silengo didn’t waste his chance chipping the puck up and over Ouellette’s right shoulder for his eighth of the year.

Undaunted (again), Reading continued to press and created a considerable number of quality chances down the stretch, including a point blank look for Riley Armstrong mid-way into the third with Simpson apparently down and out (and without a stick). But somehow Simpson was able to re-group and make a brilliant split save.

Such would be the story in this one for the Royals, who are now 0-18 on the power play this season against the Thunder, who sealed things with an empty netter with 28.3 left after Reading had opened a last-gasp shooting gallery for two-plus minutes of sixth attacker hockey.

The Royals complete the two-game weekend series against the Thunder at Glens Falls Civic Center tomorrow (Saturday, January 30 @ 7:00 pm). Saturday’s game night broadcast on CBS Sports Radio 1240 am and 98.5 fm will kick off with the pre-game warm-up show presented by Highmark Blue Shield at 6:30 pm. As with all Royals’ road games this season, Saturday’s game will be televised locally in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on BCTV courtesy of Boscov’s Travel and Apple Vacations. Streaming audio is available free of charge on the Royals’ website; 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 16 01-29