Royals fire season-high 47 shots on cage and Luukko scores twice in 5-2 disappointment at Admirals

Norfolk, VA – Defenseman Nick Luukko registered his first multi-goal game and the Reading Royals trailed by one in the final two minutes, but the Norfolk Admirals put in two empty-net goals and survived, 5-2, Friday at the Norfolk Scope Arena. Ty Reichenbach blocked 45 saves in the win. The Royals out-shot the Admirals, 47-25.Luukko’s second goal at 18:31 of the third came with the Royals net empty and pulled Reading within one, 3-2. The Royals fired 17 shots on cage in the third. Romain Chuard and Jake Wood bagged open-cage strikes with Andrew D’Agostini (loss, 20 saves) on the bench hoping for the tying goal.  Reading out-fired Norfolk, 19-9, in the middle period, but the Royals allowed three goals. All of Norfolk’s goals came on odd-man rushes; Darik Angeli scored on a breakaway, Brant Sherwood struck on a two-on-one, and Kelly Klima pounded a short-handed marker. Luukko responded with his fifth of the season and a power-play strike with 4:12 left in the second to cut the edge to 3-1, assisted by Alex Roos and Zach Todd.Reading is home for Pink in the Rink Night Sat., Feb. 9 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton. For every ticket sold, $5 will be given back to the Breast Cancer Support Services of Berks County or American Cancer Society. Call 610-898-7825 for more information.Box ScoreIn a scoreless first frame, the Royals took 11 shots and surrendered four. Reading took ten more shots than Norfolk in the second but the Royals gave up three goals.Angeli stole the puck at the Royals line and cut to the right slot all alone. He placed it halfway up the right bar to give the Ads a 1-0 edge at 3:31 of the second. Three minutes later, Eric Roy passed to Sherwood for a two-on-one and he deked to the right post and shoved it in. Kelly Klima slammed a wrist shot in at the left circle, assisted by Ben Duffy, for a short-handed strike at 14:05 of the second that made it 3-0 Admirals.Luukko gave the Royals life 1:43 later. Roos fed Luukko at the right goal line. He walked towards the crease and backhanded it to the far post off the netminder’s shoulder.With time slithering away and the Royals down, 3-1, Luukko generated another. Standing at the left slot, he wristed it through traffic and in. Roos picked up his second assist and Chris McCarthy registered his 40th assist of the campaign.  Next Home GamesSat., Feb. 9: Pink in the Rink vs. Brampton at 7:00 p.m.1) 2nd of 3 games honoring the A2) Royals will wear specialty pink jerseys3) Ladies Night4) Enter for a chance to win a 2017 Toyota Camry, courtesy of AutoRide of Reading 

Mon., Feb. 11: Player Cards and Player Autograph session vs. Brampton at 7:00 p.m.1) Postgame player autograph session and player card giveaway, pres. by Rieck's PrintingWed., Feb. 20: Player Cards and Player Autograph session vs. Maine at 7:00 p.m.1) Postgame player autograph session and player card giveaway, pres. by Rieck's PrintingAbout the RoyalsThe Royals are in their 18th ECHL season and 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.