Scoring run aids Royals to 6-4 win over Maine

Reading, PA – After allowing the first two goals, the Reading Royals (2-0-1-0, 5 pts.) scored five straight to come back and defeat the Maine Mariners (0-2-0-0, 0 pts.), 6-4, Friday at Cross Insurance Arena. Friday marked the first-ever meeting between Reading and Maine. The Royals netted three goals in the last five minutes of the second. Six Royals scored and Brayden Low registered the game-winning strike :30 into the third.

Adam Schmidt, the game’s first star, registered two points (1g). Nick Luukko, Josh MacDonald, Shane Walsh and Michael Huntebrinker also scored.

Branden Komm denied 28 shots for his second win of the season, outdueling Chris Nell (loss, 28 saves).

The Royals complete the weekend at Manchester Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

Box Score

Maine’s Terrence Wallin netted the first goal in front of Komm on a rebound with 9:36 left in the first. Antoine Waked broke the Royals stripe and feathered it to Ryan Culkin left circle. Culkin whipped it off Komm’s leg. Wallin looked to the ice, found the puck and knifed the puck through Komm. Alex Kile scored Maine’s second goal on the power play at 1:20 of the second top shelf on a wrist shot left post.

The Royals answered two minutes later; Schmidt set up at the right post and Frank Hora shot it wide right. The puck bounced actively in the air and Schmidt batted it in for his first of the season. Last season, he scored 17 goals and 44 points.

Reading started its three-goal run at the end of second period to take a 4-2 edge through two. At 15:19 of the second, Luukko received a pass at the high slot and aimed a wrist shot through traffic and in over Nell’s glove. Alex Krushelnyski and Frank DiChiara assisted. Next, Josh MacDonald set up in front of net and Adam Larkin shot it off him and in with 1:36 remaining in the second. In the final ten seconds of the period, Dan Milan engineered a rush up the middle and passed to Shane Walsh at the Mariners zone line. Walsh shot it on the ice and it flashed through Nell’s five-hole with 1.6 seconds to go in the frame.

Low continued the run at :30 of the third. After receiving a dish from Schmidt, Low aimed and shot it off Nell’s glove and in at the left circle. Huntebrinker received the secondary assist.

Maine scored twice in the in the third (Derek Pratt at 4:01 of 3rd, Garrett Cecere at 11:29), but Komm blocked 12 shots. Huntebrinker deposited an empty-net goal at 18:42 of the frame.

Reading was 1-for-5 on the man up and killed off five Maine power plays (5-for-6).Postgame autographs, pres. by Rieck’s Printing vs. Newfoundland: Oct. 24, 7:00 p.m.Two players sign postgame autographs, pres. by Rieck’s Printing | first-ever meeting between Reading and Newfoundland.

Star Wars Night vs. Wheeling: Oct. 27, 7:00 p.m.Specialty Star Wars jerseys | dress as your favorite Star Wars character | first matchup against Wheeling

Halloween Night vs. Wheeling: Oct. 28, 4:00 p.m.Specialty Halloween jerseys | concourse trick-or-treat

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.

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