Royals stay unblemished in calendar year with 3-2 win against Beast

Reading is 2-0-0-0 in 2018

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (18-14-2-0) slayed the Brampton Beast (14-12-1-2), 3-2, Friday night at Santander Arena. John Muse tied a season high with 41 saves and is 10-3-1-0 on the season. He made 13 saves in the third and is 4-0-0-0 since returning from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

The Royals kicked off their five-game home stand with a victory to move within one point of the Adirondack Thunder for second in the North Division.

Box Score

Captain Derek Whitmore opened the scoring with an unassisted power-play goal at 12:23 in the first period. The Beast turned over the puck in front of their net, resulting in Whitmore pushing the puck by netminder Andrew D’Agostini’s post and left skate for the 1-0 lead. D’Agostini made 30 saves in defeat.

The Beast countered at 1:40 of the middle frame as Willie Corrin solved Muse glove side for his second of the season and first goal since returning from his time in the AHL. The Royals regained their lead with Ryan Penny and Chris McCarthy each tallying their ninth goals of the season. Royals leading play makers, Mark Naclerio and Matt Willows each tallied their 17th assists of the season on the second-period goals. Reading led by two, 3-1, after two.

After Muse denied a Beast forward with his toe, Penny came up the ice and snuck it in, assisted by Naclerio and Scott Tanski at 4:34.

Willows and Huntebrinker assisted on the next goal eight minutes later from McCarthy.

The Royals were able to preserve their lead throughout the third period despite giving up a goal in the final six minutes of regulation time to Luc-Olivier Blain.

Reading was 1-for-2 on the power play while Brampton never had a man advantage.

Reading and Worcester face each other three straight games at Santander Arena, beginning Sat. Jan. 6 at 7:00 p.m. with a Kelly Cup Championship Tribute Puck Giveaway and Mental Health Awareness Night.

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.

Reading Royals Mobile AppHead to the App Store and Google Play to download the new Reading Royals app on your smartphone! Stay up-to-date with team news, receive notifications and purchase tickets for your next experience at Santander Arena.

Broadcast CoverageAll 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.