Royals overtaken in shootout, 6-5

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals generated eight shots in overtime, but Adirondack Thunder goalie Eamon McAdam stopped them all and two Royals in the shootout to best Reading, 6-5, Friday at Cool Insuring Arena. McAdam made 40 saves for his 15th win of the season. Matt Salhany scored four goals, including two in the third period to tie the game at five. Salhany and Nikita Popugaev tallied in the top-two rounds of the shootout, forcing Max Willman (1g, 1a) into duty for the bottom of the third. McAdam popped away Willman’s slot shot for the skills-competition victory. Despite being denied, Willman has seven points in his last two games.Reading (70 pts.) remains three points ahead of Maine for second place in the North Division. Felix Sandström made 19 saves in defeat. The teams combined for four goals in a 2:17 span in the second and the Royals took a 4-3 lead into the third. In that second, Reading scored the first two and Adirondack netted the next pair to make it a 4-3 game into the third. First, Willman sprung free for a breakaway goal up the slot at 6:10. Steven Swavely’s 11th of the season came next at 7:53, taking a pass off pad from Matthew Gaudreau. Matt Salhany and Ludvig Larsson scored for Adirondack in the next :37.Rob Michel scored his sixth of the season with a goal at 4:07 of the third, Reading’s last strike of the game. The Royals play the second game of a season-long, five-game road trip at Adirondack Saturday at 7:00 p.m. Reading’s next home game is Sun., Mar. 8 vs. Brampton at 4:00 p.m. for First Responders Night, pres. by Met-Ed.Box ScoreReading scored the opening two goals in the first 11:11 of the first; Frank DiChiara started the scoring at :52 of the opening period when Max Willman fed  him at the right slot. It was Willman’s sixth point in the last four frames. DiChiara has a career-best 19 goals.All three Royals forwards touched the puck on the next Reading goal ten minutes later. Matthew Gaudreau dunked it to the Thunder right corner for Corey Mackin, who immediately touched it for Matthew Strome at the slot. Strome unfurled for his 8th of the season.Wild secondThe Royals scored in the second period in their 21st straight game, giving the team a remarkable 42-13 goal differential in the middle 20 over that span. Reading has scored at least once in every second period dating back to Jan. 4 vs. Worcester. Coincidentally, Reading is 14-4-1-1 over that span.In this second frame, Willman scored his 7th point since returning from the AHL, improving his season numbers to 22 points in 18 games. Swavely’s goal moved him within one point of Andrew Sarauer for 7th on the Royals all-time points list.Gaudreau helping Matthew Gaudreau improved to 13 career points (2g) in 24 career games against Adirondack with a two-assist effort, his first multi-point effort since Jan. 31 at Worcester. Gaudreau has a career-best 40 points this season. Fellow former Railer Frank DiChiara opened the scoring and he has 52 points this season, the best of his career.   Salhany strongPlaying against his former team, Matt Salhany scored twice in the third and four in the game to best Reading. He leads Adirondack with 25 goals this season. His last regulation goal evened the score with 4:48 left.Salhany leads Adirondack with seven series goals.  Upcoming Home Games: royalshockey.com/promotions Sun.,  Mar. 8 at 4:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (First Responders Game, Pres. by Met-Ed)Game pres. by Met-Ed - the Reading Fire/Police squads face the Allentown squads before the game at 12:30 p.m. - 1 ticket includes admission to both games |  $1 Hot Dogs, Sodas and Nachos | Touch a Truck Event for Kids | Faith & Family Night - Church Group Rates Available | Heaven’s Thunder music performance | Last Postgame Party of the season with players at Cheers! Restaurant at the DoubleTree Hotel.Fri., Mar. 13 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk (Mental Health Awareness Night)If a Royals player records a hat trick at the game, one fan will win $10,000 | Special Theme Jersey | Green Ice for the First Time in Royals History | Mental Health Awareness Night | College ID Night: $5 tickets with valid college ID at box office| $1 Green Beer and $1 Domestic Beers | Deibler Dental Royals and Flyers Alumni Coaster Set GiveawaySat., Mar. 14 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk (Autism Awareness, Scout and Teacher Appreciation) Sensory-friendly game, with subdued atmosphere with music and lighting, plus quiet spaces in the arena | Green Ice3 Lucky Fans will each get to pick a player they think will score a Hat Trick in a contest to win a Jeep Compass Limited | Autism Awareness jerseys | Scout & Teacher Night | BSOHA Royals Puck Giveaway | $1 Rainbow treat or Dippin’ Dots | Diaper Drive to benefit Mary’s Shelter in ReadingAbout 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.