Back-and-forth game swings Growlers’ way in OT, 5-4

Reading, PA – Reading Royals forward Josh MacDonald scored with an extra skater on to even the game at four in the final two minutes, giving the Royals a point at home against the Newfoundland Growlers in a 5-4 overtime defeat Friday at Santander Arena. Steven Swavely scored two goals for the second straight game.With 1:57 left in overtime, Zach O’Brien (3g, 1a) completed a hat trick by backhanding a puck past a sprawled-out Austin Lotz (22 saves). The Royals overcame a 2-0 deficit with three straight in the second, taking a 3-2 edge into the third. Next, Newfoundland scored back-to-back goals to lead 4-3 early in the third.MacDonald tied the game on a centering pass from Chris McCarthy, with the secondary assist to Scott Dornbrock with 1:58 left. Dornbrock earned two helpers in his professional debut. He assisted on both of MacDonald’s goals.Reading has scored four goals with an extra skater on this season, all coming in the last three games.

The Royals sit 5-3-2-4, good for 16 points and third in the North Division. The Growlers have won seven straight and Michael Garteig won his fifth straight game (40 saves).On Sat., Nov. 17 in a 7:00 p.m. rematch vs. the Growlers, the Royals will wear hockey’s first-ever 3-D jerseys and hand out 3-D glasses on the Veterans Day Game. Plus, grab a rally towel, pres. by UGI Utilities.          Box ScoreO’Brien scored the game’s opening goal at 4:00 of the first, slamming a right-slot shot through Lotz. Kyle Cumiskey assisted. At :25 of the second, O’Brien received the primary assist on the Growlers next goal from Stefan LeBlanc.The Royals’ three-goal, second-period explosion started with back-to-back goals in a 59-second span, tying the game, 2-2. Swavely scored his first of the game at 5:26 of the second. Birthday boy Adam Schmidt found Swavely at the slot and Swavely quickly unleashed it by Garteig. The secondary assist went to Steve Johnson. Next, MacDonald grabbed it on the breakaway, turned to his backhand and walked around Garteig to score at the left post, assisted by Dornbrock.With 7:10 remaining in the second, Swavely completed the multi-goal effort, converting a no-look, right-slot feed from Krushelnyski. Swavely quickly snapped it in for his third career multi-goal effort.O’Brien (2:31 of 3rd) and Babintsev (5:06) scored consecutive goals to start the 3rd, providing the Growlers a 4-3 advantage.Both power plays went 0-for-5. 

Veteran’s Day Game with rally towel giveaway vs. Newfoundland: Nov. 17, 7:00 p.m.First-ever 3-D hockey jersey. First 2,500 fans receive a rally towel, pres. by UGI Utilities. Double-amputee, Eagle Scout and Sixers anthem singer Ron C. Brooks will perform the Star Spangled Banner.About the RoyalsThe Royals have been owned by serial entrepreneur Jack Gulati since 2014 and are entering their 18th 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 nine straight seasons and are four-time division champions.Listen to all Royals broadcasts at Mixlr.com/ReadingRoyals or by downloading the Mixlr App from the App Store or Google Play.