Royals overcome three-goal deficit, but K-Wings laugh last with late goals, 6-4

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals overcame a 4-1 deficit to tie the game halfway through the third, but a go-ahead strike from Kalamazoo Wings forward Colin Jacobs parachuted the Wings to a 6-4 win Friday at Santander Arena.Jacobs scored on an odd-man rush with 4:22 left, stashing it by Austin Lotz (13 saves, loss). Justin Taylor shoved in a short-handed, empty-net goal in the final minute to ice game. Reading out shot Kalamazoo, 39-19, and Ivan Kulbakov made 35 saves in the win.Four Royals scored and Reading went on a three-goal run to tie it at 10:26 of the third. Steven Swavely evened the contest at even strength, registering a point in his eighth straight game. Michael Huntebrinker, Josh MacDonald (PPG) and Frank DiChiara tallied for Reading.The next Royals home game is Sat., Dec. 14 vs. Allen at 7:00 p.m., featuring a 4-for-48 Family Four Pack. Get four tickets, four burgers and four sodas for $48.The Royals travel to St. John's, NL for a battle at the Newfoundland Growlers next Fri., Dec. 7 and Sat., Dec. 8. The puck drops at 5:30 p.m. for both contests.Box ScoreThe Wings scored on their first two shots, courtesy of back-to-back power-play goals from Wade Murphy (4:43) and Zach Saar (5:58). Murphy wristed one in from the left circle, while Saar deflected a shot attempted at the left dot by Sorenson.The Royals out shot the Wings, 10-6, in the first, but Kalamazoo netted the third goal to take a 3-0 edge into first break. Reid Gardiner broke the Royals zone line and received a pass from Ben Wilson at the slot. Gardiner quickly one-timed a slap shot in for his third of the seasonReading continued to pound shots in the second and scored in the opening three minutes of the middle frame to make it 3-1. Huntebrinker shoved a shot through Kulbakov’s body on an attempt from the left dot. Reading gave up the next strike to Tyler Ganly with 10:10 to go in the second.In the last half of the second, MacDonald (PPG, 11:34) and DiChiara (14:34) struck and cut the K-Wing’s lead to 4-3. MacDonald swooped behind net on a power-play rush and skated to the right doorstep, wrapping the puck in and past Kulbakov’s sprawled-out left leg. A wrist shot from DiChiara eluded Kulbakov over the glove hand on a left-circle shot three minutes later.Swavely jolted in the tying goal on a net-front turnover by the Wings. DiChiara tossed it to Swavely and he soared it over Kulbakov’s shoulder and in for his team-leading 11th of the season.Reading was 1-for-5 on the man up, while Kalamazoo finished 2-for-4.Santa Sacks and Stocking Stuffers: Get ticket vouchers, autographed mini-sticks, pucks and player picturesPA Lottery Voucher Giveaway vs. Kalamazoo: Fri., Nov. 30 at 7:00 p.m.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.