Photo Credit: Jaidin Cardona
With both the Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms seasons coming to an end recently. Flyers Interim GM Danny Briere was in the Press Box for this one.
First Period
Brendan Hoffman kicked things off, throwing the rebound off the arm of DiPietro at the 5:02 mark. Jacob Wilson knotted things up sniping it past the glove of Nagle at 6:57. Jacob Gaucher put Reading back on top with his power-play tally at 13:25. Alex-Olivier Voyer tied the game back up, with under two minutes to go in the period at 18:33.
Second Period
Evan Barrat gave Reading the lead back, snapping the puck past the Mariners netminder at 4:07. Max Newton’s one-timer off the feed from Barrat at 15:10, would put Reading up two heading into the third.
Third Period
Mitchell Fossier put Maine back within one, one-timing his feed from Santos at 11:49. Pat Nagle looked sharp as he did for the first two periods, stopping several power play opportunities including late in the game when they needed him most. Zayde Wisdom capped off the Royals’ win by fighting and batting home the empty-netter at 17:36.
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Evan Barrat Earned First Star Honors Tonight
“He’s been consistent for us in the last month and a half as far as contributing offensively. He drives plays he has a shot mentality. He’s got a lot of things in his game that are evident that he’s a top end player especially at our level. Overall I think he’s been great for us, so it’s kind of what our expectations have grown. He holds himself to a really high standard. Just like Nags (Nagle), he’s an extremely competitive player. He always wants to be in the middle of it and contribute as much as he can for us.”
Head Coach, James Henry on Evan Barrat
The Royals had five separate goal-scorers in tonight’s game
“As nice as it is, Newton to be on the scoresheet regularly, it’s big for us to get the secondary scoring. I think we’ve had that for the majority of the year, having a couple 30 goal scorers and multiple 20-goal scorers. Those are the guys we rely on and they’re looking to contribute offensively as much as they can, that was just another example of it.”
Head Coach, James Henry on Royals Scoring Depth
“Getting the 2-0 lead in the series is important, but it’s kind of almost a reset when you enter another team’s building. You can’t really have the mentality that we have the 2-0 lead that we can just kind of cruise. It’s going to be even more difficult when we go out there.”
Head Coach, James Henry on Taking the 2-0 lead to Portland
Evan Barrat had a slow start but seemed to find his rhythm by mid-season and carrying into the post-season
“I was dealing with a lot at the beginning of my time here in the season and I think just kind of settling in and relying on my teammate, picking me up. I mean as of past month or two it’s been going well and hopefully, we stay hot through these next couple weeks.
Evan Barrat on Finding his Stride
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Final: 5-3 Reading
REA Leads Series 2-0
SOG: 41-34 REA
(MNE) Michael DiPietro 28 – SH | 24 – SV | 4 – GA (L)
(MNE) Francois Brassard 12 – SH | 12 – SV | 0 – GA
(REA) Pat Nagle 34 – SH | 31 – SV | 3 – GA (W)
Three Stars
1. Evan Barrat – REA – 1 G, 1 A
2. Jacob Gaucher – REA – 1 G, 1 A
3. Jacob Wilson – MNE – 1 G, 2 A
Game Length: 2:34 7:00 PM EST – 9:34 PM EST
Attendance: 2,933
