Photo Credit: Sarah Pietrowski
Reading, PA – WhoDunIt? Brady did. Darren Brady wins it for the Royals in overtime. Reading bounced back after last weekend’s 2-1 regulation loss. A fun one in downtown Reading had fans nervous, but the Royals took the two points nonetheless. A couple of late Newfoundland goals earned them a point in the standings. Reading moves to (3-6-1-1) on the season good enough for 8 points. Newfoundland earns their 13th point, moving their record to (5-5-3-0).
RECAP
The Royals needed a hot start, playing against the rivals from up north is never an easy task. Reading would do just that heading into the first media timeout on top. Will Zmolek netted first of the season on his own rebound sliding it past an out-of-position goaltender in McKay. The odd goal had Zmolek and Mongo bump into each other, the two chuckled down the fist bump line at 5:13. Will’s lone goal in the period gave the Royals a 1-0 lead heading to period two. Nolan Maier carried over his stupendous performance from last weekend where he had 29 saves on 30 Bears shots.
The Growlers who seemed to gain momentum late in the first had carried it over to the second period. Just 37 seconds into the frame, Tate Singleton netted his sixth of the season, a one-timer just past the glove of Maier. Reading thought they had regained the lead with a Fawcett tally. The goal was immediately waved off, it appeared as if Paliani had skated through the painted half-circle and bumped McKay. Yvan Mongo said, “Wave this one off” as he tallied his fourth goal of the season. Mongo’s breakaway backhand goal put the Royals ahead at the 14:22 mark. Both teams netted a goal in the frame, Royals led 2-1 after 40 minutes.
Reading kept the pressure alive in the third frame. Mongo, who just had a great night showing off his speed and his playmaking ability, set up a great feed for Nardi. Joseph Nardi extended the Royals lead one-timing a shot off of Mongo’s tape-to-tape feed, his fourth of the season at 11:02. Reading looked great, killing time and playing great defensively. An unfortunate break though former Growler, Ryan Chyzowski was called for a delay of the game minor for flipping the puck into the stands. Grant Cruikshank netted the power play tally, his eighth of the season, a one-timer past Maier at 15:04. Reading fans thought their team had closed out the win, the Growlers had other plans. With just 15.4 seconds to play, Isaac Johnson in his first game for Newfoundland this season netted the game-tying goal another one-timer past a sliding Maier. Nolan Maier had a great game through 60 minutes, 31 saves on 34 shots. The two late goals can’t put Maier at fault, two great shots with a man advantage on both tallies.
The overtime winner, Darren Brady on the first shot in the extra session, sniped it past McKay just 31 seconds into the overtime.
Nolan Maier with a great performance after being recalled from Lehigh Valley, had 31 saves on 34 shots. Maier faced the defending Calder Cup champs last Sunday he made 29 saves on 30 Hershey shots in the big 4-1 Phantoms win. Nolan was yet to win a game for Reading this season.
Dryden McKay had 24 saves on 28 shots in the losing effort for Newfoundland.
Matt Brown had a great night he picked up the lone helper on the Brady game-winning goal. Brown only showed up on the game sheet with that lone assist, but he helped the Royals gain momentum and scoring chances all night. Brown showed off his speed early and really kept Newfoundland on their heels when trying to gain a spark.
Brady’s second goal of the season earned him 1st star honors. Mongo’s two-point night earned him 2nd star, and Joseph Nardi also had two points earning 3rd star.
Reading and Newfoundland cap off the two-game set tomorrow night. Same time, same place on Scooby-Doo/Pucks & Paws night at Santander Arena.
Reading, PA | Santander Arena
