Reading Powers Past 'Blades 4-2

ESTERO, Fla. – The Reading Royals scored three power play goals to defeat the Florida Everblades by a 4-2 score at Germain Wednesday night.

The Reading Royals got off to a fantastic start taking advantage of two power play opportunities. The first power play came chance came within the game’s first five minutes. Former Everblade Yannick Tifu skated the puck to the bottom of the right wing circle and slipped a cross ice pass to Stanislav Galiev.  Galiev immediately hammered the puck on the backside behind Florida goaltender Pat Nagle for goal.

Royals didn’t stop there. Shortly after, Royals added another power play goal to the board when forward T.J. Syner received a pass from David Vallorani and launched the shot from the right wing circle which steamed past the left glove of Nagle to extend the Reading lead to 2-0.

Breaking the silence, the ‘Blades answered on their end. Mike Merrifield drove the puck down the left wing to the top of the crease. Merrifield’s backhand shot managed to slip past Royals goaltender Riley Gill closing out the first period 2-1.

The Royals continued to stay strong on the power play in the second period. Reading received a 5-on-3 advantage, and scored just 13 second into the opportunity. David Marshall fired the puck on wrist shot from the top of the slot which beat Nagle cleanly to give Reading a 3-1 advantage after two periods played.

Just 30 seconds into the third period, an open Mathieu Roy on the backside of the crease secured a pass from Corey Trivino. Roy immediately directed the puck into the net behind Gill to pull the ‘Blades within two.

However, the Royals responded right back on their end when David Marshall flipped the puck into the crease from behind the net.  David Vallorani batted the puck from the top of the crease and slipped it past Nagle for the goal to double the score 4-2, and secure the victory.

Gill earned his first win of the season stopping 24 of 26 shots faced while Nagle suffered the loss allowing four goals of 19 shots.

GAME NOTES:  Prior to the game, defenseman Charles Landry was returned to the team from the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League.

The ‘Blades will take on the Gwinnett Gladiators this Friday and Saturday night at Germain Arena with Friday’s game beginning at 7:30. Don’t forget to wear pink for our Pink in the Rink event! There will be a live jersey auction following Saturday’s game. All proceeds will benefit cancer charities.

Ticket Information: The Capital Bank Box Office is open Monday thru Friday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Fans may also call Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or order online at www.ticketmaster.com

Group discounts are also available, and can save fans up $8 off per ticket from the normal box office price. For more information on all available packages, call the Everblades office at 239-948-7825

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