Gooch scores two as Royals bombard Admirals in road trip finale

The Reading Royals, proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, defeated the Norfolk Admirals, 4-2, Wednesday, Mar. 16 at Norfolk Scope Arena. Royals goaltender Pat Nagle saved 26 of 28 shots while Admirals goalie Dylan Wells saved 29 of 33 shots.

BOX SCORE

Reading scored 1:12 into the game on a give-and-go feed between Trevor Gooch and Patrick Bajkov for an early Royals’ lead. Bajkov’s cross-crease pass allowed Gooch to tap the puck past the right pad of Wells for Gooch’s first of two goals in the game as well as Bajkov’s team leading 34th assists and 53rd point.

Reading extended their lead on Brayden Low’s second shorthanded goal of the season. Positioned at the Admirals’ blue line, Low poked the puck off the stick of Alex Tonge and skated in on a breakaway. Dangling the puck from his forehand to his backhand, the Royals’ alternative captain beat Wells with a backhand shot around the netminder's sprawled out body for Reading’s fourth goal on the penalty kill this season.

Trailing by two goals, the Admirals answered back with a pair of power play goals to tie the game. Greg Betzold opened the scoring for Norfolk 12:39 into the first period with a wrist shot snapped past Nagle’s glove side. Tongue deflected Christian Hausinger’s shot into the back of Reading’s net to tie the game for his team leading 25th goal of the season.

16:48 into the second period, Garrett Cecere scored to put the Royals ahead for good. Winding up at the blue line, Cecere ripped a slapshot past Wells for his third goal of the season and a Royals’ lead heading into the third period, 3-2.

Gooch scored Reading’s fourth and final goal of the game early into the final period of regulation. Gooch’s backhand shot from the right face off dot squeaked through Wells’ 6’2 frame as the net was forced off of it’s mooring by the Admirals’ netminder. After an official scoring review, Gooch’s second goal of the game stood for his 7th multi-goal game of the season. The Royals improve their point streak to twelve games on Pat Nagle’s third consecutive win since returning to Reading, moving him into a tie for third place on the ECHL's all-time list of most victories by a goalie.

The Royals return home to host the Adirondack Thunder Friday, Mar. 18th, at 7:00 p.m. at Santander Arena.

UPCOMING GAMES

AFFILIATION NIGHT - 3/18/22

• Affiliation Night presented by Enersys

• Flyers Friday presented by Deibler Dental

• Gritty and meLVin Appearance

• Kirill Ustimenko bobblehead giveaway, presented by Savage Auto Group

• PA Lotto giveaway

• Specialty jersey

• 4 for $48 - 4 tickets, 4 burgers, 4 sodas

ST.HATTRICK’S NIGHT - 3/19/22

• Green Ice

• Retro lunchbox giveaway presented by Deibler Dental

• $10,000 giveaway

• Speciality jersey

• Green beer

$1 Day - 3/20/22

• $1 Popcorn/$1 Nachos/$1 Hot Dogs

• Salute to Essential Workers Sundays presented by Visions Federal Credit Union (Teachers)

• Post-Game skate presented by T-Mobile

Buy tickets HERE: www.royalshockey.com/promotionsReading Royals season, flex memberships and group tickets are available for the 2021-22 season by visiting the Royals’ box office at Santander Arena or by calling 610-898-7825.About the RoyalsThe Reading Royals, proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, are entering their 20th season in the ECHL. They won their first Kelly Cup championship in 2013 and have clinched playoff berths in 10 of the previous 11 seasons. They are four-time division champions. The Berks County Convention Center Authority (BCCCA), founded in 1996, owns the Royals and oversees operations at Santander Arena.