Game 55 Preview: Reading at Manchester

Matchup with surging Monarchs concludes weekend   

Manchester, NH – The Reading Royals (30-20-4-0, 64 pts., 3rd North), proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, are at the Manchester Monarchs (33-17-3-1, 70 pts., 1st North) to conclude the weekend Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Reading has squared off vs. Manchester five times this season and is 2-3-0-0 through the first five. In the last season series squabble, the Royals earned a 6-2 win Jan. 14.

The Royals are two points behind Adirondack for second in the North after suffering a 3-2 OT loss at the Thunder Saturday. Scott Tanski and Chris McCarthy scored.

Sunday’s game is also the first time Reading netminder Branden Komm battles his former team. The Royals acquired Komm Feb. 13 for the ECHL rights to D Adam Comrie. Since coming to Reading, Komm is 3-0-0-0 with a pair of shutouts and two assists.

Manchester had a five-game winning streak snapped in a 4-1 loss to Worcester Saturday.

The Royals are playing their final game in the northeast for two weeks. Reading embarks to Orlando for two games and Jacksonville once next week. Sunday’s matchup is game two of an eight-game road trip. The Royals have earned points in

Sunday’s broadcast starts at 2:45 p.m. on Rumba 1340, RumbaReading.com and BCTV (Channel 15 Comcast, Channel 19 Service Electric). Listen in during first intermission to the BCTV/Jimmy G’s Railroad House Trivia Question of the Night for a chance to win a gift card to Jimmy G’s.

After the game against the Monarchs, the Royals and Solar Bears meet on Thurs., Mar. 1 at 7:00 p.m. Reading travels north to Jacksonville for the second matchup of the season against the Icemen on Fri., Mar. 2 at 7:30 p.m. On Sun., Mar. 4 at 1:45 p.m., the Royals are back in Orlando for the season-series finale at the Solar Bears. Royals Pregame starts 15 minutes before puck drop on RumbaReading.com and BCTV for all Royals road games. Check out the BCTV broadcast during first intermission for the Jimmy G’s Railroad House Trivia Question of the Night for a chance to win a gift card to Jimmy G’s.

Reading is next at home on Wed., Mar. 14 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Fort Wayne, with four players hosting a postgame photo and autograph session, courtesy of Rieck’s Printing.

Royals legend Yannick Tifu will have his #10 retired to the Diamond Credit Union Wall of Honor on Sat., Mar. 17 vs. the Brampton Beast at 7:00 p.m. Plus, meet WWE’s Million Dollar Man and celebrate St. HatTrick’s Day with the Royals, presented by Met-Ed! The first 5,000 fans will receive a Yannick Tifu poster, courtesy of Rieck’s Printing and Diamond Credit Union. The Royals will wear special St. Patrick’s Day jerseys. Tifu captained Reading to the team’s first Kelly Cup in 2013 and played in 245 Royals games, third-most in team history. Tickets are available here.

Jan. 14 – one of the most-important gamesThe Royals entered their last game vs. Manchester on Jan. 14 off a two-game losing streak to Adirondack and came away with a 6-2 win vs. the Monarchs. Reading received two goals from ECHL All-Star Michael Huntebrinker and scored five in the second period. The first four of those second-period tallies happened in a span of 5:08, including Dillan Fox’s (1g, 2a) first.

Coincidentally, the Royals scored their first five against Branden Komm, now on Reading.

Since Jan. 14, the Royals are 10-3-2-0 and outscoring foes, 62-40. The Jan. 14 game also marked the start of Matt Willows’ point streak, which stands at 15 games (9g, 17a).

Season SeriesBoth of Reading’s season-series wins have been in Manchester. The Royals are 2-1-0-0 in New Hampshire and 0-2-0-0 at Santander Arena. In the Royals’ wins, they have outscored the Monarchs, 11-5. In Manchester’s victories, the club has won by a combined score of 17-4.

Michael Huntebrinker has four goals and five points vs. the Monarchs, the most goals on the squad. Jordan Lavallee-Smotherman leads the Monarchs with six goals against the Royals. He has recorded at least a point in every game vs. Reading and has goals in four straight.

Branden Komm has never faced Manchester in four seasons. Mark Dekanich is 1-3-0-0 against Manchester. Despite allowing 4.75 goals per start, Dekanich has averaged 36 stops per game. He denied 41 on Dec. 9 vs. the Monarchs.

Manchester’s Charles Williams has allowed three goals in three games against the Royals (2-0-0-0 record).

Scouting ManchesterThe Monarchs are 11-4-0-0 since dropping to Reading Jan. 14. Over that span, Manchester has outscored opponents, 64-41, during that span. In eight of the 15 games, Manchester has ripped at least five goals, including a season-best 10 vs. Jacksonville Jan. 21.

Manchester has scored at least five goals in 23 games this season. The squad averages 3.8 goals per game.

Jordan Lavallee-Smotherman is second in the league with 30 goals.

Manchester’s best frame is the third, outscoring foes, 71-42. Against Worcester Saturday, neither team found twine in the third.

Since trading Branden Komm, Charles Williams has played in four of six games (3-0-0-0 record, 6 GA). For the season, the rookie is 19-8-3-0 with a 2.50 goals against average and .920 save percentage in 32 games.

Road trip diary: 470 miles down, 3,530 to goThe Royals have travelled to Glens Falls, NY and Manchester, NH to start the eight-game road trip. Next up, the squad flies to Orlando, FL and has three games in the Sunshine State.

After Florida, the Royals have a game in Brampton, ON Mar. 8 and two in Wheeling to complete a three-in-three Mar. 9-10.

Postgame autograph session Wed., Mar. 14 vs. FW at 7:00 p.m.Stay after the game for a special postgame autograph session on Wed., Mar. 14 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Fort Wayne, presented by Rieck’s Printing. It’s the only chance of the season to see the Komets.

Next Big Night: Yannick Tifu Number Retirment, Ted DiBiase “Million Dollar Man” appearance, St. HatTrick’s Day on Sat., Mar. 17 vs. BRM at 7:00 p.m.Royals legend Yannick Tifu will have his #10 retired to the Diamond Credit Union Wall of Honor on Sat., Mar. 17 vs. the Brampton Beast at 7:00 p.m. Plus, meet WWE’s Million Dollar Man and celebrate St. HatTrick’s Day with the Royals, presented by Met-Ed! The first 5,000 fans will receive a Yannick Tifu poster, courtesy of Rieck’s Printing. The Royals will wear special St. Patrick’s Day jerseys. Tifu captained Reading to the team’s first Kelly Cup in 2013 and played in 245 Royals games, third-most in team history.

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.