Photo Credit: Jaidin Cardona
The Royals are heading to Toledo as they get set for 3 straight on the road. They kick off their road trip against the red-hot Walleye tonight and head 4 and a half hours east to downtown Wheeling to play the Nailers Saturday and Sunday.
The Walleye are on fire they currently are on an 18-game winning streak dating back to February 5th and are currently on a 27-game point streak dating back to January 15th. The ECHL record for most consecutive wins is 23 set by South Carolina back in 2015. The winning streak is the longest in Toledo pro hockey history, dating back to 1947.
Brandon Hawkins has 70 points (33 G, 37 A) this season. He averages over a point per game this season. Hawkins leads the ECHL with 32 power-play points, he also leads the team in game-winning goals with 6. With 33 goals Hawkins is 3rd in the ECHL.
Toledo’s penalty kill has been outstanding this season only allowing 16 goals, the lowest in the league. Their PK% is 85.2% which leads the entire ECHL.
The Royals are coming off a solid weekend against the Gladiators earning 4 of the possible 6 points against Atlanta. Evan Barrat added 6 points across Friday and Saturday, scoring 3 goals and adding 3 assists. Alec Butcher had a point in each of the three games giving him a three-game point streak with 2 goals and 5 assists in the span. Defenseman, Tyler Heidt had a big weekend, finding twine twice including on Sunday to bring the game within one in the 3rd period.
Let’s look at Toledo’s goaltending, shall we? Jan Bednar the newest signed netminder doesn’t have any stats with the Walleye but does with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the QJMHL. In 10 games this season with the Titan, Bednar is 4 – 5 – 1, with a .897 SV% and 4.46 GAA. Sebastian Cossa is red hot winning his last 10 in the net. On the season Cossa is 23 – 13 – 2, with a .915 SV%, 2.40 GAA, and 4 Shutouts in 38 games played this season for the Walleye.
Let’s head over to downtown Wheeling, West Virginia. The Nailers are getting set to host the wings tonight before two straight against the Royals. Cédric Desruisseaux leads the Nailers in points with 52 (26 G, 26 A).
The Nailers picked up a couple of wins last weekend earning 4 of the possible 6 against the Norfolk Admirals last week. Winning the game on Wednesday in dominant fashion 8-4, pulling out the OT win on Friday, then falling 4-2 on Saturday.
Let’s look at Wheeling’s goaltending, shall we? Brad Barone is 10 – 15 – 6, with a .902 SV%, 3.26 GAA, and a shutout in 36 games played. Tommy Napier is 5 – 11, with a .875 SV%, 3.69 GAA, and a shutout in 18 games played.
Royals look to earn big wins on the road as they look to pull away from trailing Maine in the north division race and catch up to the division-leading Growlers. Reading is in 6th place in the east but they only trail 4 points behind the 2nd place, Jacksonville Icemen. Toledo sits in 2nd with 88 points in the central 3 points behind the division-leading Cyclones. Wheeling sits in 5th in the central with 55 points and 11th place in the whole western conference.
Reading Royals at Toledo Walleye – Friday, March 24th, 7:15 PM
Reading Royals at Wheeling Nailers – Saturday, March 25th, 7:10 PM
Reading Royals at Wheeling Nailers – Sunday, March 26th, 4:10 PM
Tune in to hear Erik Jesberger on the call at mixlr.com/readingroyals!
