Royals escape Worcester with 2-1 OT win

Worcester, MA – Matt Willows scored with 2:20 left in overtime and the Reading Royals snuck by the Worcester Railers, 2-1, Wednesday at the DCU Center. Reading’s leading scorer (12 goals) flew up the right wing and shot it from the right circle off the far post and in. His goal came on a 3-on-1 rush moments after the puck stayed outside John Muse’s crease on a shot in front of the net. Muse savored the win with 31 saves, including three extra-session denials.

Worcester’s Woody Hudson tied the game with 51 seconds left. Muse made his first 28 saves before yielding.

James de Haas recorded his first Reading goal and assisted on the overtime winner. The Royals have 36 points (17-14-2-0), one ahead of Wheeling for third in the North Division.

de Haas ripped in the opening goal short-handed at 7:21 of the second, snapping the puck off a rebound at the left circle and assisted by Mark Naclerio. Both of de Haas’ pro goals have been short-handed. Naclerio fed de Haas on a short-handed rush and the defenseman gained the blue line. He dragged it, let a body fly by and shot it. After his initial shot was denied, he shoved the rebound top shelf and by Eamon McAdam. de Haas’ first professional goal came down a man in the third period of a Lehigh Valley (AHL) victory over Springfield (11/24/17).

McAdam allowed one goal on 26 shots (OTL).

The Royals power play was 0-for-5. Worcester went 0-for-4 on the man up.

The Royals start a five-game homestand Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m. with Jerry “The King” Lawler coming to Santander Arena on Pro Wrestling Night against the Brampton Beast. Reading and Worcester face each other three straight games at Santander Arena, beginning Sat. Jan. 6 with a Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway and Mental Health Awareness Night.

Box Score.

Meet Jerry “The King” Lawler on Pro Wrestling Night Jan. 5Meet wrestling legend Jerry “The King” Lawler at Santander Arena and watch the Royals battle the Brampton Beast on Fri., Jan. 5 at 7:00 p.m.

Mental Health Awareness Night and Kelly Cup Puck Giveaway Jan. 6Sat., Jan 6 vs. WOR at 7 p.m.: Kelly Cup Tribute Championship puck to the first 2,000 fans courtesy of Berks-Schuylkill Oil Heat Association.$5 Green Zone Tickets Dollar Dogs and Postgame skate Jan. 7Sun., Jan 7 vs. WOR at 4 p.m.: Dollar dog day presented by Safe Berks, Berks Packing and Coca-Cola, and a postgame skate presented by Body Zone.

Purple and Black three-game pack on sale –Get an autographed Royals puck and come out to three of our biggest games for just $30.- Sat., Jan. 20 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Slapshot bobblehead giveaway, THON Night, Star Wars jerseys)- Fri., Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Pink in the Rink, knit scarf giveaway)- Sat., Mar. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Yannick Tifu number retired, Meet WWE Million Dollar Man)- Sat., Mar. 24 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (Kelly Cup Tribute puck giveaway, Autism Awareness jerseys)- Sat., Apr. 7 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk (FANdemonium, fan appreciation, fan’s choice giveaway)- Call 610-898-PUCK and tickets are available here.

About the RoyalsThe Royals have been owned by serial entrepreneur Jack Gulati since 2014 and are in their 17th ECHL season. Proudly affiliated with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Reading plays in the Santander Arena, located in downtown Reading, PA at 700 Penn Street. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013, have made the playoffs in eight straight seasons and are four-time division champions.

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Broadcast Coverage

All Royals game can be heard on Rumba 1340 AM and the iHeartRadio app by searching “Rumba 1340”. The pregame show starts 15 minutes before puck drop. Watch Royals games on ECHL.tv. Reading away games are shown locally on BCTV, channel 15 Comcast, channel 19 Service Electric.