Photo Credit: Sarah Pietrowski
Reading, PA – The Royals looked to get back on track. Reading dropped all three on the road trip out west over the weekend. Falling to Toldedo on Friday night followed by back-to-back losses to Nailers in West Virginia. Jacob Gaucher loaned by the Phantoms made his season debut along with Matt Brown making his home debut. Conner Fedorek called up from the Fayetteville Marksmen made his season debut as well. NHL contracted Will Cranley to make his home debut for the Royals. Reading received Cranley on loan from St. Louis Blues AHL affiliate, Springfield Thunderbirds. Fan favorite, Brendan Hoffman also made his home debut coming off the injured list.
The Royals kicked things off after a couple of nice saves from Cranley Reading, who found twine the other way. Darren Brady netted his first of the season, batting home the rebound at 4:37. The public address announcer couldn’t finish addressing the crowd on the Royals goal, but the Admirals knotted things up. Ryan Foss received a great feed off the stick of Doomenick Fensore into a breakaway, he dangled his way past Cranley and slid the puck in the yawning cage, his 2nd goal of the season just 11 seconds later at 4:48. Matt Brown put the Royals ahead, his 2nd in four games for the Royals at 16:20. Brown who was sent down on 10/30 had 5 points in 3 games on the west road trip. A late-period high sticking penalty would give the Admirals a power play for the remainder of the frame and the start of the 2nd. Cranley stopped 14 of the 15 shots he saw in the opening 20 minutes.
Justin Robidas knotted things up with his third of the season, a goal that would have a secondary helper given to goaltender Thomas Milic at 1:00. Nearly three minutes later, Ryan Chyzowski sniped it past Milic for his 9th goal in as many games at 3:53. Koletrane Wilson ended Milic’s night another snipe from the same area Chyzowski scored his, just 28 seconds later. Mark Liwinski brought the Admirals back within one, known for his physical play netted his first of the season at 14:40. Yaniv Perets stopped all 5 he saw in relief for Norfolk.
Adam Brubacher opened up the scoring over the halfway mark of the 3rd. Brubacher’s fourth of the season a power play tally at 11:14. Reading hoping that the game was on ice as they approached the 2-minute mark, Norfolk had other plans. Thomas Caron netted the first of two 6-on-5 goals late in the game. A one-time feed off the dish from McLean at 17:37. Mathieu Roy tied things up, the second 6-on-5 goal another one-timer at 19:17. The Admirals forced an improbable overtime session.
Ryan Chyzowski netted the game-winning goal, his first career game-winning goal. The goal was beautiful, a turnover turned into a breakaway and a dangle that took Perets out of his skates 1:50 into overtime.
Will Cranley stopped 32 of the 37 shots he saw in the Royals’ win. Thomas Milic stopped 11 of the 15 he faced, and Yaniv Perets received the loss he stopped 17 of the 19 in relief.
The Royals and Admirals wrap up the two-game set on Saturday the 11th. 7 p.m. faceoff back at Santander Arena, Outdoors Night at the arena. Specialty jerseys and deals you can check it all out at royalshockey.com
Santander Arena | Reading, PA
