Most-lopsided win in Royals history, 8-0, over Cincinnati

Reading PA- The Reading Royals (28-19-3-0, 59 pts.) overpowered the Cincinnati Cyclones (27-20-2-0), 8-0, in the most-lopsided victory in Reading history Friday at Santander Arena. Netminder Branden Komm earned a shutout in his debut with the Royals, stopping 35 shots and adding two assists. Matt Willows registered his 16th multi-point game (1g, 2a) this season, the most of any Royal.

The Royals scored five goals in the second period for the second time this season. Reading was four-for-four on the power play and scored the man-up goals using just 1:08. The first three power-play tallies were scored in 33 seconds.

Johansson stopped 27 of 31 shots before being replaced by Jason Kasdorf midway through the second period. Kasdorf recorded 11 saves and allowed four goals.

Box Score

Michael Huntebrinker (2g, 1a) opened the night after beating a defender one-on-one and solving Johansson glove side for a 1-0 lead 11:58 into the first. Reading has scored first in 11 straight games.

The Royals opened the flood-gates in the middle frame with Steven Swavely finding the rebound from Matias Cleland seven seconds into the power play at 6:22. Alex Krushelnyski was awarded the second helper.

Willows followed suit with a breakaway goal through Johansson’s five-hole 2:14 later to take the 3-0 lead. Huntebrinker and Komm had the assists.

Adam Schmidt crossed the blueline with speed but ran into traffic and dropped the puck to Jimmy DeVito who sniped it past Johansson for the final shot he would face in the contest. The Royals led 4-0 at 11:06, forcing the Cyclones to make a netminder change.

The Royals continued to press scoring off a face-off six seconds into the second power play of the period. Huntebrinker took his chances throwing a puck on goal off the faceoff, resulting in a 5-0 lead at 17:01 into the second. Krushelnyski earned his second assist of the night.

Nolan Zajac added a third power-play goal, beating Kasdorf left post for the 6-0 lead at 17:55. Chris McCarthy and Willows each earned a point. Willows earned his 50th point off the assist.

Adam Schmidt took a pass from Willows and Wilkins and put the Royals up 7-0 at 11:34 of the third period. Exactly six minutes later he added his second of the night, unassisted to give the Royals an eight-goal lead.

The Royals beat a team by at least seven for the first time since March 24, 2012, against Trenton.