Royals outflanked by Thunder, 6-2

Glens Falls, NY- Steven Swavely scored the opening goal, but Adirondack Thunder scored the next four in the first period and defeated the Reading Royals, 6-2, Saturday at Cool Insuring Arena.

Swavely’s breakaway goal, his 10th of the year, came two minutes into the game. Ryan Schmelzer (PPG), Troy Bourke and Brian Ward registered strikes in a 4:35 span during the middle of the period to quell Royals momentum. Mathieu Brodeur scored the Thunder’s second power-play goal of the period with 1.4 seconds left in the frame.

Branden Komm (10 saves) replaced Mark Dekanich (loss, 24 saves) and did not allow a goal. The Royals pulled Dekanich after Shane Conacher scored his second straight goal with 4:18 to go in the second, making it 6-2 Adirondack.

Ken Appleby blocked 19 shots in victory. The Royals were 0-for-4 on the man up. The Thunder scored two power-play goals (2-for-3).

Nolan Zajac also tallied for the Royals, moving him to second in the ECHL among defensemen with 16 goals. The Royals trail the Thunder by three points for second in the North Division. Both have clinched playoff spots.

Sign up here for 2018 Kelly Cup Playoff Information! Be the first to know when the Royals’ playoff dates are set.

The Royals play two of the final three regular season games at home. On Wed., Apr. 4 at 7:00 p.m., Reading hosts the Worcester Railers at Santander Arena and has a postgame player autograph session, presented by Rieck’s Printing. The regular-season finale is FANdemonium on Sat., Apr. 7 at 7:00 p.m. and the Royals are giving out prizes at every whistle. Plus, the first 2,500 fans receive a Royals rally towel, presented by Tower Health.

Box Score

The Royals capitalized at 2:01 of the first with a skyhook break-in feed from Adam Schmidt to Swavely. Schmidt eyed Swavely and caught him for a breakaway by going over the defense with the pass. Swavely has points in three straight games since returning from the AHL.

Four minutes later, Schmelzer labeled in a slot shot to top shelf and evened the game, 1-1, assisted by Bourke and James Henry. Halfway through the first, Bourke delivered a rebound past Dekanich on a wrist shot from the slot. Conacher and Schmelzer had the helpers.

Forty-eight seconds after the go-ahead goal, Brian Ward snapped another in at 10:35, assisted by Desmond Bergin and Dylan Olsen. Brodeur scored the final goal of the frame on the man up (19:58 of the frame), cutting in from the blue line to the right circle and snipping it past Dekanich on a shot from the right circle. Dekanich made 11 saves in the opening frame. Appleby had five denials.

Nolan Zajac trimmed the lead to two at 6:06 of the second. Matt Willows tossed it to Zajac in between the circles. Zajac is second among ECHL defensemen with 16 goals. Chris McCarthy had the secondary assist. The Thunder regained a three-goal edge on Conacher’s first of the game, sniping in a one-timed shot from the left slot off the ensuing face-off (6:14).

Conacher scored again on a shot close to Dekanich at 15:42 of the second.

2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs DatesWhen the Royals’ dates in the 2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs are set, be the first to know by signing up here!

Postgame autograph session, Wed., Apr. 4 vs. WOR at 7:00 p.m.Check out a postgame autograph session with four players, presented by Rieck’s Printing. It’s the final game of the season series between Reading and Worcester and the Royals lead the series, 7-5-1-0.

Tickets are available here.FANdemonium, prizes at every whistle and last home game of regular season, Sat., Apr. 7 vs. NOR at 7:00 p.m.We are giving away Royals prizes at EVERY WHISTLE! Plus, the first 2,500 fans receive a Royals rally towel, courtesy of Tower Health. Tickets are available here.

Season ticket holders: stick around after the game for a chance to win a game-used Royals jersey with “Jerseys off our Back” promotion. You must be present to win.

2018-19 season tickets now availableTop full-season benefits include: exclusive Reading Hockey Club per seat gift, discounted rate off regular ticket prices, ticket exchange, preseason meet and greet, exclusive season ticket holder events, advanced entry and a chance to win and the Royals Owner’s Suite for a game. Call 610-898-7825 and visit to join the Royals family or renew season tickets for the 2018-19 season. Visit royalshockey.com/tickets/season-tickets to learn more.

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.

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.