Photo Credit: Samantha Wismer
The Reading Royals now lead the series 2-0, after a 5-2 victory last night against the Maine Mariners. It was a physical battle against the Mariners all weekend.
First game Recap
The first period was scoreless but there were a handful of penalties. Unfortunately, the Royals couldn’t capitalize on the three power plays they had in the first. However, their penalty kill unit killed both tripping penalties called on Jacob Gaucher and Ryan Cook alike. There was an early full body hit from Texas native, Solag Bakich. That set the tone for the hunger they have to take the series.
Of course, the second period was as physical as the first period of play. However, there were no goals scored and no penalties taken by either team. The third period was an entirely different story, however. To open up the scoring, in came Bakich from Charlie Gerard for the Royals to slide one past Mariners netminder Michael DiPietro. In between a Royals goal and a Mariners goal was a Royals penalty for slashing by Devon Paliani, that was killed. The Mariners maintained to get on the board with a goal by forward Curtis Hall, assisted by Fedor Gordeev and Reid Stefanson. A fast paced shift by Captain Garrett McFadden, set Gerard up for a close game winning goal, assisted by both McFadden snd Bakich. Late in the period there was some hubub about the Mariners having too many men on the ice, which the Royals didn’t capitalize on that penalty either. With a show stopping performance on both ends of the ice, it was Pat Nagle who shined brightest as he made jaw dropping saves all 60 minutes. The Royals won 2-1.
Second game Recap
The first period on Saturday night was nothing but entertainment. Penalties, goals, and full body checks here and there. Spurts of line spats broke out a handful of times. The Royals lit the board up first with a physical goal by Brendan Hoffman, assisted by Colin Felix and Paliani. Quickly followed by defenseman Jacob Wilson and his unassisted goal for a tie game. With an Austin Albrecht tripping penalty, the Royals were able to produce scoring chances with a goal by Jacob Gaucher, assisted Mason Millman and Tyler Heidt. Shane Sellar and Conner Doherty both got tanked for roughing. Not long after that, the Mariners tied the game with a goal by forward, Alex-Olivier Voyer, assisted by Cameron Askew and Jacob Wilson. The first period ended with the score tied at two.
There was an early goal to start the second period took from Pennsylvania star Evan Barratt, assisted by Gaucher and Zayde Wisdom. At this stage of the Gaucher had a two point game (1g,1a). A tripping penalty on Matthew Santos led to a Max Newton goal, assisted by Barratt and McFadden. Making it a multi-point night for both Jacob Gaucher and Evan Barratt. The period ended with penalties on Paliani for slashing and at the same time Connor Doherty for roughing. Then finally, Gaucher for slashing, penalty was killed. The second period ended with the Royals leading 4-2.
“Out unit, we’ve been not necessarily struggling but we haven’t been putting the pucks in like we want to. And I think we just kind of simplify things and move the puck quick,” Evan Barratt said on his assist to a Max Newton power play goal.
The third period began with two early power plays for the Mariners, but they couldn’t produce anything on them. Unfortunately, the Royals squandered three power plays, however, Coach James Henry was pleased by what he saw from his power play unit, “The power play was a little bit better tonight. Little more urgency from the group, little bit better puck movement. Get into the dirty areas to find that one,” referring to Jacob Gaucher and
Max Newton’s power play goals. With angst coming from both sides of the bench the entire game, it was Zayde
Wisdom’s empty net goal that secured the 5-2 victory for the Royals.
Let’s see what transpires on Monday night when the series moves to Portland, Maine where the Royals take on the Mariners on their home ice. Hopefully the Royals come out with fire, and put the dagger in the Mariners.
Extra Credit:
Flyers Interim GM Danny Briere was in attendance last night.
