Schmidt scores career-high 45th point in 5-1 loss to Fuel

Reading, PA - Adam Schmidt scored his career-high 20th goal of the season in a 5-1 loss to the Indy Fuel Saturday at Santander Arena. Jamie Phillips saved 19 of 22 shots and Indy's Matt Tomkins blocked 29 of 30 shots. The Royals trailed by three until Schmidt broke the shutout with 3:06 to go. He has 45 points this season and ranks second on Reading.Schmidt and the Royals travel to Glens Falls, NY to play Adirondack Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Watch the game on BCTV (Ch. 15 Comcast, Ch. 19 Service Electric) with coverage beginning at 2:45 p.m. The Royals start a five-game home stand next Fri., Mar. 22 vs. Newfoundland.

Deibler Dental first star Mathew Thompson registered three points for Indy (2g) and struck first for the Fuel 4:49 into the opening period. Nick Luukko attempted to breakout of the Royals’ zone, but Thompson raced towards him and stripped the puck away. Phillips followed Thompson from his left to the right post but Thompson snuck the puck by him for his 15th of the season.

Travis Brown scored his 13th goal of the season to put the Fuel up, 2-0, with 3:44 remaining in the period. He unloaded a wrister in the deep slot while Phillips was being screened by Craig Puffer and Phillips couldn’t see the puck clearly. Former Royals player Olivier Labelle provided the primary assist.

Down by two, Reading held a 5-on-3 man-advantage for 1:54 during the second and third periods but failed to score. The Royals went 0-for-10 on the power play and the Fuel scored once on five man-up opportunities.

Box Score

Thompson recorded his 16th goal of the season six minutes into the third period to extend the Fuel’s lead to 3-0. Josh Shalla was positioned in the left circle and sent the puck to Thompson in the deep slot during the power play. Thompson walked to the high-slot and cranked the puck by Phillips.

Schmidt opened the scoring for the Royals with 2:46 remaining in the third period. With the net empty, Chris McCarthy bulleted a pass from the left circle onto Schmidt’s tape in the weak-side crease. Schmidt buried the puck for his 20th goal of the season and his career-high 45th point.

Samuel Thibault and Eric Schurhamer sunk empty-net, short-handed goals to ice the game for the Fuel.

Next Home GamesFri., Mar. 22: $1 Beer Night at 7:00 p.m. vs. Newfoundland1) $1 Draft Beer2) Enter for a chance to win a 2017 Toyota Camry, courtesy of AutoRide of Reading

Sat., Mar. 23 The Anthony Myers Movement Night and American Cancer Society Night: 7:00 p.m. vs. Newfoundland1) 3rd Night honoring the American Cancer Society with specialty jerseys 2)  Enter for a chance to win a 2017 Toyota Camry, courtesy of AutoRide of Reading

Sun., Mar. 24 Scout Night: 4:00 p.m. vs. Worcester1) Scout Night at the Royals2) Pregame Scout activities 1:30pm

About 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.