Royals Hold On to Take 'Suspended' Game in Elmira, 4-3

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Teams     Per: 1          2          3

REA:              2          2          0=4

ELM:              0          0          3=3

Records

REA: 32-20-1-2 = 67 (4, North Division)

ELM: 10-37-7-1= 28 (6, North Division)

Goaltenders

REA: Ouellette (No Decision) (13:53) (8/8)

            Dekanich (win, 15-10-1-1) (46:07) (27/30)

ELM: Kasdorf (No Decision) (13:53) (11/13)

Iles (loss, 6-20-4-1) (45:38) (27/29)

Power Play:

REA: 0 – 5

ELM: 0 – 2

Elmira, NY – The Reading Royals (­­­­­­­­­loss, 32-20-1-2 = 67) of the ECHL, affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, defeated the Elmira Jackals (loss, 10-37-7-1 = 28), 4-3, at First Arena in Elmira, New York.

In the ‘back-end’ of the game which was begun on February 17, when the Royals and Jackals played 13:53 before the game was halted and suspended with Reading leading 2-0 due to ice conditions at First Arena in Elmira, Reading was able to extend the team’s lead to 4-0 before holding on for dear life in a three-goal third-period onslaught from the Jackals to claim the two points. Tonight, Reading got second period goals from Olivier Labelle and Ryan Penny to extend the lead to four. The Jackals counterpunched with two early goals in the final frame and a short-handed goal mid-way into the third to quicken the pulse of the Royals, who were all too happy to see the clock tick down on this one.

The victory snapped a three game losing streak for the Royals, who pushed the team’s record back to twelve games over .500 and continued to hold onto the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division.

Reading entered tonight’s action leading 2-0 on goals by Mike Pereira 1:20 after the opening faceoff and by Ryan Penny 10:11 into the opening frame back on February 17. Tonight, neither team was able to score in the remaining 6:07 of the opening frame after which the ice was re-surfaced.

Reading struck first tonight 1:43 into the second when Matt Willows carried deep down the right side before sliding the puck back up to the mid-slot, where Olivier Labelle found a soft seam for a quick snap shot. With Penny creating heavy traffic in front of the net, Elmira goaltender Andy Isles (who took over the goaltending duties this evening from Jason Kasdorf) seemed handcuffed by Labelle’s shot. Isles got a chunk of the puck but not enough to keep it out, as Labelle bagged his second goal in two games and his nineteenth of the season, which is tied for the team lead with three other players.

Ryan Penny bagged his second of the game—and nineteenth of the season, as well—16:28 into the second when Tyrell Goulbourne’s second effort forced a turnover on the right wing wall, allowing him to take possession deep in the offensive zone, cut out of the corner, and fforce his way to the top of the crease where Isles poked the puck off his stick, but it slid right back up the gut of the slot where Penny came storming in to swipe it home.

In the third, the Jackals turned the tide early. With Reading caught in a horrendous wholesale line-change, the Jackals’ Guy LeBoeuf fired a perfect stretch pass to defenseman Davis Vandane at the offensive blue line. Vandane, who had a step on everyone carried straight to the top of the crease where he laid down a beautiful forehand-backhand chip up and over the right pad of goaltender Mark Dekanitch (who took over the goaltending duties tonight for Martin Ouellette who played the 13:53 on February 17) for his seventh of the year forty-seven seconds into the final frame.

The Jackals cut Reading’s lead in half 2:10 into the third when Sebastien Sylvestre carried through the right circle and passed to himself through his legs to deke a Reading defender; but as he got close to the Royals’ net, the puck slid off of Sylvestre’s stick, allowing Dekanitch to poke it away. Unfortunately, Dekanitch’s poke check forced the puck right back up into the slot, where the last guy charging in—Luke Sandler—quickly swiped it back through the pile for his first of the year.

Nine seconds after that goal, Reading appeared to rebuild the three goal advantage when a puck fluttered up and over Iles and into the net; but, after a lengthy conference amongst the officials, it was determined that the puck was played with a high stick and the goal was waived off.

In relative short-order, Reading then was awarded forty-two seconds of five-on-three when Vandane took a delay of game minor while the Jackals were already playing short-handed. Not only did the Royals not score on the five-on-three, the Jackals bagged the fourth short-handed goal of the year against Reading while killing off the back-end of the penalty sequence.

The goal resulted from a terrible turnover in the neutral zone that the Jackals’ Casey Thrush was able to turn into a breakaway. Thrush was heavily hooked from behind—and the Royals were going to be penalized on the play—but he was still able to force the puck to the right side of the crease where a crashing Kenton Miller chipped it up and over Dekanitch 8:12 into the third.

From there it was a nasty, gritty back-and-forth grinder. But the Royals were able to hold off the hard-charging Jackals to run the team’s record to 8-1-0-0 this season against Elmira—with one more game to go between the two teams.

NEXT UP FOR THE ROYALS

FRIDAY, March 3, 2017

v Manchester Monarchs

Santander Arena – Reading, PA (7:00 pm)

Flyers Friday with Philadelphia Legend and Stanley Cup Champion Bob “The Hound” Kelly

Reading Health System

SATURDAY, March 4, 2017

v Manchester Monarchs

Santander Arena – Reading, PA (7:00 pm)

Autism Awareness Night

Wall of Honor Induction of Ryan Cruthers

Ryan Cruthers Bobblehead Giveaway Courtesy of Reading Health System

On-Line Specialty Jersey Auction to Benefit Local Autism Causes

Jersey Auction Details Available: bidpal.net/goyellow

SUNDAY, March 5, 2017

v Norfolk Admirals

Santander Arena – Reading, PA (5:00 pm)

Battle of the Badges XII

Reading Police - Fire v Allentown Police - Fire (at 1:30 pm)

James Reimer Mini-Locker Room Giveaway Courtesy of Bethany Children’s Home

First 1000 Kids 16 & Younger

Post-Game Skate with the Players – Must Bring Your Own Skates

ROYALS BROADCAST

AUDIO: iHeartRadio – Rumba 1340 in Reading

DEIBLER DENTAL IN-ARENA BROADCAST: 99.3 FM Inside Santander Arena

TELEVISION: Royals’ Road Games are televised locally in Berks County, Pennsylvania

on BCTV, which Can Found at Comcast Reading Cable Channel 15,

Service Electric Cable Channel 19, Comcast Southern Berks Channel 965

STREAMING VIDEO: ECHL.TV powered by NeuLion (Pay-Per-View)

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