Royals defend home ice in shootout win over Railers

The Reading Royals, proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, defeated the Worcester Railers in a shootout, 3-2, Wednesday, Mar. 2 at Santander Arena. Royals goaltender Logan Flodell saved 39 of 41 shots while Railers goalie Colten Ellis saved 31 of 33 shots.

BOX SCORE

After a scoreless opening period, it didn’t take long before the Royals lit the lamp in the second period. Patrick Bajkov broke the scoreless tie just 54 seconds out of the first intermission for his 18th goal of the season. Trevor Gooch and Patrick McNally earned assists on Bajkov’s goal that put Reading ahead, 1-0.

Worcester responded back seven minutes to tie the game. Brent Beaudoin was the final product of a strong play with the puck by Anthony Repaci. Repaci skated around Flodell’s net and fed Beaudoin a cross-crease pass that skipped past the Royals’ net minder to the Railers’ forward.Positioned to the right of Reading’s cage, Beaudoin tapped in the puck for his 11th goal of the season.

Reading took back their lead on a crisp give-and-go passing play late into the second period. Garret Cockerill and Brad Morrison connected in the Railers’ zone and finished off the strong play with Cockerill chipping the puck over Ellis’ right pad and into the back of Worcester’s net. Cockerill’s second goal of the season put the Royals back in front with a one-goal lead heading into the final period of regulation, 2-1.2:49 into the third period, Worcester tied the score for the second and final time in the game. Reece Newkirk skated with the puck into Reading’s zone and snapped a wrist shot from the slot over Flodell’s left shoulder. Newkirk’s game tying goal forced overtime and then a shootout after neither team found the back of the oppositions’ net after seven minutes of 3-on-3 overtime.

Anthony Gagnon shot first for the Royals and earned the game’s first star with his game winning shootout goal. Gagnon skated to his right and put a forehand shot through Ellis’ pads for the game-winning goal in the shootout period. Flodell made saves on the first two shootout attempts from Beaudoin and Newkirk. Cole Coskey took the final shootout attempt for the Railers and hit the post to earn the Royals first shootout win of the season (1-1).

The Royals travel to Worcester to take on the Railers Friday, Mar. 4th, at 7:00 p.m. at the DCU Center.

UPCOMING GAMES

READING PREMIUM NIGHT PRESENTED BY SLY FOX TAPHOUSE - 3/5/22

• $1 Reading Premium drafts

• Scout Night

• Frank DiChiara bobblehead giveaway presented by Savage Auto Group

• Coaster giveaway presented by Deibler Dental

• Specialty jersey

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

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.