Game 18 Preview: Newfoundland at Reading

Game 18 Preview: Newfoundland at ReadingHockey Fights Cancer Night, Royals up by four for 1st in North      

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (11-4-2-0, 22 pts., 1st North) have tied a season-long, four-game winning streak and seek their eighth straight home victory vs. the Newfoundland Growlers (10-6-2-0, 20 pts., T-2nd North) Saturday at 7:00 p.m. The Royals won the front end of the three-game home weekend, downing Newfoundland, 5-3, Friday with goals from five skaters. Reading is 3-1-1-0 vs. Newfoundland this season and has won back-to-back games against the Growlers.Over the last six games (5-0-1-0), Reading has outscored opponents, 22-16 and won all three home games. The current seven-game home winning streak at Santander Arena spans to Oct. 20, the second contest at Santander Arena in 2019-20. Reading’s lone home loss came in the home opener vs. Maine. The Royals have outscored foes, 29-22, in home games.Newfoundland had a five-game winning streak snapped Friday despite goals from Zach O’Brien, Justin Brazeau and Marcus Power.Today’s promotions: American Cancer Society Night | Glow Stick Giveaway Sponsored by ACS for the first 2,000 Fans | I Fight For Interactive Wall on the Concourse | Ice Painting Packages Available by Calling 610-898-7825 | Hockey Fights Cancer Jersey | Free Souvenir Cup RefillsBroadcast Coverage: Listen on the Deibler Dental In-Arena Broadcast (99.3 FM) and mixlr.com/readingroyalsRoyals leadersGoals: Cuddemi (11)Assists: Cuddemi (12)Points: Cuddemi (23)PIM: Low (28)+/-: Gaudreau (12)Growlers leaders Goals: Pooley (10)Assists: Conrad/Duszak (13)Points: Luchuk (18)PIM: Melindy (36)+/-: M. Bradley/Pooley (+8)Season Series: REA, 3-1-1-0 The Royals have registered at least one point against the Growlers in six of the last seven games between the clubs dating back to last season (4-1-1-1) and Reading is 2-0-0-0 vs. Newfoundland at home this season.The winning team has scored at least three goals in each series game and the clubs have combined for 43 tallies in four contests (REA, 21 GF). Six Royals – Frank DiChiara, Ralph Cuddemi, Garrett Mitchell, Pascal Laberge, Pascal Laberge Matthew Gaudreau – have multiple goals against the Growlers. DiChiara (3g) leads the team with eight points in the series. Gaudreau, now recalled to AHL Stockton, generated his second career multi-goal game Oct. 31 vs. Newfoundland.In cage, Kirill Ustimenko (1-0-1-0, 3 GP) has allowed eight goals to the Growlers (3.36 GAA, .899 sv.%). Sandström is 2-1-0-0 vs. Newfoundland (5.25 GAA, .839 sv.%).Rookie Maksim Zhukov is the only active Growlers netminder to see time this season vs. Reading; he is 1-3-0-0 (18 GA, 4.64 GAA, .811 sv.%).  

Rookies stepping upOver the current four-game winning streak, the Royals have seen contributions from multiple first-year talents, namely Kirill Ustimenko, Max Willman and Corey Mackin. Willman scored the goal that put the Royals ahead for good Friday, sniping a top-shelf strike late in the first to give Reading a 3-2 advantage. He has two goals and three points this season in five games.Corey Mackin also scored in the first period and is on a career-long six-game point streak. He has scored in three straight games, the best stretch of his career.Kirill Ustimenko improved to 6-1-1-0 in his last eight outings. The Royals are 9-1-1-0 since falling at Wheeling Oct. 26.Four games left on homestandThe Royals will give away a glow stick to the first 2,000 fans (pres. by ACS) on Saturday. On Sunday, check out a free postgame skate on Nov. 24 (pres. by Body Zone).Sat., Nov. 23 vs. Newfoundland at 7:00 p.m. – Hockey Fights CancerSun., Nov. 24 vs. Newfoundland at 4:00 p.m. – Princess DayFri., Nov. 29 vs. Toledo at 7:00 p.m. – Game Show NightSat., Nov. 30 vs. Toledo at 7:00 p.m. – PAW Patrol Night A Royals Win Would…Provide Reading a season-long five-game winning streak…Establish the best home winning streak in the Kirk MacDonald era (8 straight home wins)…Be the eighth ever vs. Newfoundland (REA: 7-5-2-2 all time vs. Growlers).Beef returnsThe Anaheim Ducks reassigned former Royals netminder Angus Redmond from San Diego (AHL) to Newfoundland Nov. 4.  Redmond started the season with Allen and was reassigned to San Diego in October. He did not play in any games with the Americans.In 2018-19, Redmond played in seven games with the Royals and went 1-3-0-3 with a 3.37 goals against average and .897 save percentage (20 GA). He went on to complete the season with South Carolina and Jacksonville, overall combining for an 8-9-3-3 mark (3.17 GAA, .903 sv.%).Redmond’s last game with Reading was one year ago today; he allowed eight goals to Adirondack. The next game, netminder Nick Niedert started in place of the injured Redmond and Niedert made a career-high 38 saves (1 GA) to upset the Thunder, 2-1.  About the RoyalsThe Royals are in their 19th ECHL season and are proudly affiliated with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013, have made the playoffs 14 times, and are four-time division champions. The Berks County Convention Center Authority (BCCCA), founded in 1996, owns the Royals and oversees operations at Santander Arena and the Santander Arena Performing Arts Center.Listen to all Royals broadcasts at Mixlr.com/ReadingRoyals or by downloading the Mixlr App from the App Store or Google Play. All Royals away games are broadcasted on BCTV (Ch. 15 Comcast, Ch. 19 Service Electric) and Mixlr.