Reading earns point in divisional battle with Adirondack, 3-2 (OT)

Glens Falls, NY – Reading Royals forward Scott Tanski tied the game at two early in the third, but James Henry scored the overtime winning goal on a breakaway with 2:34 remaining in overtime to provide the Adirondack Thunder a 3-2 win Saturday at Cool Insuring Arena. The point gives Reading 64 this season, two behind the Thunder for second in the North.

Tanski scored the goal unassisted at 2:32 of the third on a turnover by the Thunder, his second of the season. The Royals allowed the first goal early in the middle frame and Chris McCarthy scored 6:32 into the second to tie it, 1-1. Matt Willows assisted on McCarthy’s second-period strike, giving Willows points in 15 straight (9g, 17a). The Reading record for consecutive games with a point is 25 (Mike Kompon, 2004-05). Willows had a streak of eight straight games with a goal snapped, keeping him tied with Joe Zappala for the Reading record.

Adirondack’s Troy Bourke gave the Thunder a 2-1 edge going into the third.

Mark Dekanich made 41 saves, including 11 in the third, to help Reading earn a point. Drew Fielding took the win with 26 saves. The Royals were 1-for-3 on the man up and denied Adirondack’s only chance.

Reading is on the road to face Manchester on Sun., Feb. 25 at 3:00 p.m. 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.

Box Score

In a scoreless first period, Dekanich made 18 saves. Reading was out shot, 18-7.

Desmond Bergin tagged in a slap shot from the center of the Royals line to place Adirondack ahead by one. The goal snapped a Reading streak of 14 straight games tallying the first goal. Paul Rodrigues assisted.

McCarthy pulled Reading back even at one on the man up after a turnover by the Thunder defense inside their line. Matt Willows took the puck at the left blue line and arrowed it to McCarthy. From the deep right slot, McCarthy bombed it in over Fielding’s upper body. Nolan Zajac earned the secondary assist and is on a five-game point streak.

With 8:27 left in the middle period, Bourke scored the go-ahead goal by banking it in off a Royals defender’s skate in front. Shane Conacher garnered the assist.

Tanski flung in a shot to even the game from the left slot of the Thunder zone at 2:32 of the third. The pucked ricocheted off Michael Huntebrinker to Tanski.

After the Sunday game at 3:00 p.m. against the Monarchs, the Royals embark to Orlando for the first of three matchups in the Sunshine State. First, 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.

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.

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.