Largest crowd of season watches Reading come from behind, 5-3

Click below for highlights and postgame reaction

Game Highlights | Kirk MacDonald postgame | Frank DiChiara postgame |

Reading, PA – Down by two in opening period, Rob Michel scored a comeback-generating goal late in the first and the Royals poured in three in the second period to entertain 6,632 fans on Pink in the Rink Night, 5-3, over the Wheeling Nailers Saturday at Santander Arena.  It was Reading’s largest crowd since Apr. 9, 2016 vs. Wheeling. Before the game, one of the 6,632 was chosen as Reading’s 3-millionth in team history. For being named the 3-millionth, "little Alana" won one season ticket to the 2020-21 Royals campaign and a signed “3,000,000” Royals team jersey.The Royals have four won straight games and are second in the North Division with 59 points (27-14-5-0).Felix Sandström shrugged away 25 shots for his second straight win, while Alex D’Orio blocked 31 (4 GA, loss).The Royals allowed the first two goals before igniting the big crowd with 2:57 to go in the first; Michel drove net front Matthew Strome fed him. Michel scored his third of the season by one-handing it through D’Orio. Steven Swavely garnered the secondary assist.Reading scored the next three goals in fewer than four minutes midway through the second. Brayden Low scored the eventual game-winning goal short-handed at 10:30 of the second. Frank DiChiara gave the Royals the lead for the first time three minutes earlier and was the game’s first star, adding an empty-net goal to ice the game.Box scoreBig games require big scoring The Royals dominated the second period with three straight goals to turn a one-goal deficit into a 4-2 advantage.The goals came in a 3:54 span. Following a media timeout, Hayden Hodgson received a pass from Jeremy Beaudry in across the Nailers line and aimed a shot through the five-hole of D’Orio to even the score at 6:36. Next, DiChiara scored his first of the night with a one-timed slap shot from the right circle on the man up, dinging D’Orio for the third time to provide the Royals with their first lead 1:06 later. Eric Knodel registered assists on both goals.To complete the stretch, Low sniped an odd-man-rush goal from the left slot for Reading’s second short-handed marker of the season. It was Reading’s first goal while penalty killing since Nov. 22 vs. Newfoundland, when Trevor Yates scored from the left-wing circle.Reading has outscored foes, 13-2, over the last four second periods. Additionally, Reading has tallied in the second period in thirteen straight games (26 GF, 7 GA).Sandy’s strideNetminder Felix Sandström earned his second straight win and blocked all shots faced during a 38-minute span, giving the Royals the chance to take the lead in the second period.He is on a winning streak for the second time in his North American career. In two games this weekend, he blocked 43 of 48 shots to lower his goals against average (8-10-0-0, 3.52 GAA, .881 sv.%).Upcoming Home Games: royalshockey.com/promotions Sat., Feb. 8 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Wheeling (Pink in the Rink) – pres. by Lamar Advertising, Adams & Associates and Alvernia University Royals play on pink ice with Fleece Blanket Giveaway to the first 1,500 fans | 3-millionth fan celebration | Breast Cancer Awareness Jerseys | $1 Pink Rose Draft Cider | Doubleheader: 1 ticket also gets you admission to the Alvernia Women’s Hockey Game at 2:00 p.m.Sun., Feb. 16 at 4:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (Kids Club Game)Last free postgame skate of the season, presented by Body Zone | Team Photo Giveaway | $1 Hot Dog, $1 Soda & $1 Nacho Concession Special Pricing | Game Included Kids Club Packages presented by Applebee’s, Schuykill Valley Sports and YMCA of Reading and Berks County (Sign Ups Available)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.