NOTES OF THE WEEK1. The Royals extended the team’s unbeaten streak to four (3-0-1-0) with a pair of wins to start the week, defeating the Gwinnett Gladiators at Santander Arena in Reading (4-2) on Wednesday (March 19), and the Kalamazoo Wings (4-2) at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Friday (March 21). That streak was snapped with a 5-3 loss to the Evansville Icemen on Saturday at Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
2. Friday’s win in Kalamazoo pushed the Royals’ record to a season-high 20 games over .500 (40-20-1-2). With Saturday’s loss, the Royals are currently 19 games over .500 for the second time this season (40-21-2-1=83).
3. Friday’s win in Kalamazoo pushed the team into sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference for the second time this season. Reading held the top slot until Kalamazoo’s win over the Fort Wayne Komets on Sunday, March 23, which pushed the Royals out of first in the East and into second.
4. The 83 points accumulated to this point by the Royals is fourth best in the league behind the K-Wings (84) in the Eastern Conference, and the Alaska Aces (88) and Ontario Reign (86) in the West.
5. The team’s .648 win percentage is second best in the Eastern Conference and fourth best in the league. Kalamazoo has a .656 save percentage, while Alaska leads the league with a .688 win percentage and Ontario is second best with a .683 win percentage.
6. The Royals are 10-2-1-0 in the team’s last thirteen games; 12-3-1-0 in the last sixteen; and have compiled a record of 25-9-1-1 in the last 36 games since Jan. 8.
7. Friday’s 4-2 win in Kalamazoo marked the 40th win of the year for Reading. The Royals’ 40 wins leads the Eastern Conference, and? is second most in the league to Alaska (41). Ontario also has 40 wins. For tie-break purposes, Reading’s 36 non-shootout wins is tied for second-most with Ontario. Alaska has 38 regulation and overtime wins.l
8. This marks the fifth time in the 13-year history of the team that the Royals have won 40 or more games – three of which (and the last two in a row) have come under head coach Larry Courville. In addition to this season, the others are (i) 2004-05 (43) (coach Derek Clancey); (ii) 2005-06 (42) (Coach Karl Taylor); (iii) 2010-11 (44) (Coach Courville); and (iv) 2012-13 (46) Coach Courville).
9. Since starting the 2012-13 season 1-5-1, the Royals have gone 101-40-10 in the team’s last 151 games (including playoffs), which translates into a .702 winning percentage.
10. Wednesday’s 4-1 win over the Gwinnett Gladiators marked the 20th home victory of the year for Reading (20-10-1-0). Those 20 home wins ties the team with three other clubs (Evansville, Orlando and South? Carolina) for the second most wins on home ice in the Eastern Conference. Kalamazoo leads the East with 22 victories at home.
11. This marks the eighth time in team history that Reading has recorded 20 or more wins on home ice, including four of the five full seasons in which the team has been led by Coach Courville. In each of the seven of the previous seasons in which the team has won 20 or more on home ice, the Royals has advanced to qualify for playoffs.
12. Reading has four remaining regular season home games, including this Friday’s (March 28) match-up against the Elmira Jackals.
13. The 4-2 win in Kalamazoo on March 21 marked the 20th road win of the year for Reading. This is the fifth time in team history that Reading has recorded 20 or more wins on the road, which includes the last four in a row under Coach Courville. The team record for wins on the road is 22, which was set three seasons ago in 2010-11 (22-12-2).
14. Over the last four seasons under Coach Courville the Royals have compiled a 83-45-12 record on the road, which is 38 games over .500 and translates into a .636 win percentage.
15. The Royals have four more road games remaining in the regular season, including this Saturday’s match-up against the Elmira Jackals at First Arena in Elmira, New York, where the team has gone 6-0-0-0 to this point of the season.
16. This if the fourth time in team history that Reading has won 20 or more games at home and on the road. Three of those seasons have come under the guidance of Coach Courville (2010-11: 22-22); (2012-13: 26 -20); and (2013-14: 20 – 20). The other ’20-20′ season came in 2005-06 under Coach Karl Taylor (22-20).
17. Wednesday win over Gwinnett pushed the Royals’ record to 5-4-00 against teams from the South Division. Reading still has four more games to be played against teams from the South, including a three game road trip to finish the season against the Florida Everblades and Orlando Solar Bears.
18. With Friday’s win in Kalamazoo, and Saturday’s loss in Evansville, the Royals’ record against teams from the North Division stands at 14-11-0-1, with two games remaining against teams from the North – both against the Kalamazoo Wings at Santander Arena in Reading on April 4 and April 5.
19. Reading will complete the regular season series against the Elmira Jackals (and the Atlantic Division) with a home-and-home two game set against the Jackals this weekend-Friday in Reading and Saturday in Elmira. The Royals have compiled a record of 12-2-0-0 against Elmira this season and have gone 21-6-2-0 within the Atlantic this year.
20. Wednesday’s win over Gwinnett completed the Royals’ regular season? series against the Gladiators with a three-game sweep (3-0-0-0).
21. Friday’s victory in Kalamazoo marked the first win of the year for Reading in Kalamazoo in the team’s last regular season visit to Wings Stadium (1-3-0-0). The Royals still have two more games to be played against the K-?Wings (on April 4 and 5) at Santander Arena in Reading. So far, the Royals are 2-4-0-0 against Kalamazoo.
22. The Royals completed the team’s regular season series against the Evansville Icemen with the 5-3 loss on Saturday. That marked the first regular season loss of the year for Reading to the Icemen (5-1-0-1). It was also the first loss ever for the Royals in the state of Indiana since the Fort Wayne Komets and Evansville Icemen joined the ECHL last season. Historically, Reading is 8-1-0-0 in Indiana.
23. After going a span of scoring the game’s first goal in only three of 13 games played (from Feb. 16 through March 14), Reading has scored the game’s first goal in four of the last five played, including on Friday in Kalamazoo and Saturday in Evansville. Reading has scored the game’s first goal 35 times this year – 54I.7 percent of the games – and has gone 26-8-1-0 in those games, which is a .757 win percentage. The Royals are 14-13-1-1 when the opposition scored first, which is a .517 win percentage.
24. In Wednesday’s win over Gwinnett, the Royals trailed twice at 1-0 and 2-1, but were able to successfully mount the team’s 15th come-from-behind win of the season. Ten of those come-back wins have come in the team’s last 22 played.
25. Reading scored three ‘late game goals for’ this week. A LGGF is defined as a goal (or goals) scored in the third period (or O.T.) that ties a game in which Reading gets at least one point in the standings, or breaks a tie to give Reading the win. In Wednesday’s win, Reading got two LGGF’s: (i) Jesse Todd’s goal to tie the game at two (14:04 into the third period); and (ii) Michal Cajkovsky’s third period tie-breaking game-winner 15:28 into the final frame (i.e., 1:24 after Todd’s goal). The Royals also got a LGGF on the third period tie-breaking GWG by Jesse Todd with 6:08 remaining in regulation in Friday’s win over Kalamazoo. Reading has recorded 15 LGGFs this season.
26. On Saturday the Royals held two separate two-goal leads at 2-0 and 3-1, bug blew those leads and ended up losing in regulation to Evansville. That marked the ninth game this season in which the Royals blew a lead and lost. It was the first time this year that Reading was unable to hold a two-goal lead.
27. Saturday’s game marked only the second time this year that Reading has led after the first period of play, and failed to win (20-2-0-0). The other was the 6-2 loss to the Greenville Road Warriors in Greenville on February 23.
28. In each of the two wins this week, the Royals offense generated four goals. Reading has compiled a record of 29-0-0-0 when scoring four or more goals this year.
29. Overall, the Royals have scored 201 total goals, which translates into a 3.14 goals per game-seventh best in the league.
30. In both wins this past week, Reading held the opposition to two goals. Reading has held the opposition to two goals or less 35 times this season, and has compiled a record of 33-1-0-1 in those games.
31. In the lone loss this past week, Reading’s defense got touched up for five goals. That marked the sixth time this season that Reading allowed five or more goals against. The Royals are 0-6-0-0 in those games.
32. Overall, the Royals have allowed 165 goals against, which translates into a 2.58 team goals against average, which is fourth best in the league.’
33. Reading has the best goal differential in the Eastern Conference at +36 (201 goals for – 165 goals against). Alaska leads the league, playing to a plus-70 (215 goals for and 145 goals against).
34. Reading’s best period, with respect to goal differential this year has been the second, during which the Royals have outscored the opposition, 72-50 (+22), which is the best second period goal differential in the league – despite getting outscored 3-0 in the second by Evansville on Saturday.
35. The second period has also been the Royals’ most productive with respect to generating shots on goal, outshooting the opposition by 118 (735 – 617). In fact, last Wednesday Reading generated 23 shots in the second period against the Gwinnett Gladiators, which is the team season-high for shots in a single period. The Royals followed that up by generating 22 shots in the second period in Friday’s 4-2 win in Kalamazoo. However, in Saturday’s loss in Evansville, Reading was outshot, 11 – 7 in the middle frame.
36. Reading scored a power play goal in two of the three games played this past week (2-for-11), breaking through for the week’s first goal (18:45 into the second period on Wednesday against Gwinnett), and last goal (the third against Evansville 17:45 into the first period of
Saturday’s loss). The Royals have scored a PPG in nine of the last 11 games played, going 10-for-40 during that time span with the man advantage (25.0 percent).
37. Overall, Reading is scoring power play goals at a 16.6 percent ratio (42-for-253), which is tenth best in the league. Reading’s power play has performed better at home (19.4 percent – tied for fourth best in the league) than it has on the road (13.2% — 19th in the league).
38. The Royals’ penalty killers have gone seven consecutive games without giving up a power play goal against, killing the last 13 chances for the opposition with the man advantage.
39. Overall, the Royals PK is killing at an 86.0% clip (30 PPGA in 215 chances), which is third best in the league. The kill has been getter on the road (89.2% – second best in the league) than at home (83.2% – 13th best in the league).
40. Ryan Cruthers, who recorded an assist on the Royals second goal (by Yannick Tifu) in Friday’s win in Kalamazoo, leads the Royals with 49 points (13-36a) in 46 games. Cruthers, who has 16 points (2g-14a) in his last 16 games, is the all-time leading scorer for the Royals with 216 points (68g-148a) in 205 games with the team.
41. Although Yannick Tifu’s six-game point streak was snapped on Wednesday against Gwinnett, he scored Reading’s second goal (6:46 into the second period) to re-take at Kalamazoo on Friday, 2-1.? Tifu, who has ten points (6g-4a) in his last nine games, played his 177th game as a Royal on Saturday in Evansville, surpassing Reagan Rome (176) for the second most career games played as a Royal. Tifu is also the team’s second
leading all-time scorer with 173 points (65g-108a) in his time with Reading.Ow
42. Domenic Monardo stretched his personal goal scoring streak to four games by scoring the team’s first goal (to tie the game at one), 18:45 into the second period while the Royals were playing with the man advantage in Wednesday’s win over Gwinnett, and then notching the team’s fourth (insurance) goal in Friday’s 4-2 win over Kalamazoo. Monardo, who is currently riding a five-game point streak (4g-2a), has scored seven goals in his last eight games. Monardo’s goal against the K-Wings was his team-leading 25th of the year, which leads all first-year pros in the league. His 41 points is tied for 11th most amongst rookies in the league. His goal against Gwinnett marked his team-leading tenth power play goal of the season, which also leads all ECHL rookies. Monardo has generated 194 power play shots on goal, which is fully 20 more than any other first year pro in the league
43. With his goal in Kalamazoo on Friday, Domenic Monardo became the 12th ?player in Royals’ hockey history to score 25 or more goals in a single season. Two players have pulled off the feat off twice: Brad Rooney (2001-02, 26 and 2002-03, 27) and Andrew Sarauer (2009-10, 28, and 2010-11, 25). The others were Brian McCullough (2002-03, 39), Steve Rymsha (2002-03, 38), Kent Davyduke (2003–04, 26) Doug Christiansen (2005-06, 35), Greg Hogeboom (2006-07, 30), Brock Hooton (2007-08, 26), Chris Blight (2010-11, 25), Olivier Labelle (2011-12, 27), and Yannick Tifu (2012-13, 27).
44. T.J. Syner had his six-game point streak (3g-3a) snapped Friday night in Kalamazoo, but he bounced back with his ninth multi-point performance of the season (1g-1a) in Saturday’s 5-3 loss in Evansville. His goal that night was the game’s first goal, marking his team-leading fifth ‘FG’ of the season. Syner has eight points (4g-4a) in his last eight games.
45. Ethan Cox, who recorded his fifth multi-point game of the year (1g-1a) against Gwinnett on Wednesday, is riding a three-game point streak (1g-3a). Cox, who has ten points (4g-6a) in his last 12 games, is playing to a plus-15, which is tied with Kevin Walrod for the best plus-minus amongst forwards on the Royals.
46. Josh Brittain snapped a six-game goal scoring drought with his third power play goal of the year to give the Royals a 3-1 lead 17:45 into the first period in Saturday’s 5-3 loss to Evansville. Brittain has 18 points (8g-10a) in his last 20 games with the Royals.
47. Matt Campanale picked up the primary assist on the power play? goal by Domenic Monardo in Wednesday’s win over Gwinnett. That was Campanale’s 22nd point of the year (6g-16a) (in 63 games with Reading), which ties the offensive output that he had in 2010-11 with the Elmira Jackals in 2010-11. Campanale also scored one goal in eight games with Bakersfield that season to establish his career scoring best (7g-16a=23pts).
48. Kevin Walrod is riding a three-game point and assist streak (0g-4a). In Friday’s 4-2 win over Kalamazoo, Walrod assisted on both the first goal of the game by Jesse Todd, and the third period tie-breaking game-winner by Todd with 6:08 remaining in regulation. That marked Walrod’s first multi-point game as a Royal-although he did have a two-assist performance earlier in the season (on December 31) when he was a member of the Evansville
Icemen. Walrod has nine points (2g-7a) in his last 12 games. Walrod is tied with Ethan Cox? for the team lead amongst forwards in plus-minus, playing to a plus-15 in 33 games with Reading. Overall, he’s playing to a plus-18 (+18), which includes five games with the Evansville Icemen.
?49. Brett Flemming recorded ?an assist on the third period game-tying goal by Jesse Todd 14:04 into the third period on Wednesday against Gwinnett. Flemming also recorded his first multi-point game of the year when he picked up a pair of helpers in Saturday’s loss in Evansville. Flemming has 18 points (6g-16a) in 51 games with the Royals, surpassing his offensive output with the team last season (15 points in 50 games). Fleeming also has one point with Hershey this season, and his 19 total points this season is a personal career season high.
50. Defenseman Mike Banwell picked up the primary assist on the third-period tie-breaking game-winner by Jesse Todd in Kalamazoo on Friday.
51. Jesse Todd is riding a three game goal scoring streak (4g) and a four-game point streak (4g-1a=5pts). He scored his first goal of the season in his 34th game of the year on Wednesday against the Gwinnett Gladiators. That ?goal tied the game at two with just 5:56 remaining in regulation time – 51 seconds after the Gladiators thad taken a 2-1 lead. He followed that up with a multi-goal game (his second as a pro) in Friday’s win over Kalamazoo. His goals that night included the game’s first goal (2:58 into the first period) and the third period tie-breaking game-winner with just 6:08 remaining in regulation. He kept the streak going when he scored the Royals’ second goal (2:54 into the first period) in Evansville on Saturday.
52. Bryant Molle, who picked up his eighth assist of the season on the empty-net goal by Ethan Cox on Wednesday against Gwinnett, leads the Yteam in plus-minus, playing to a plus-16 in 59? games with the Royals. His 94 penalty minutes also leads the Royals.
53. Goaltender Brandon Anderson extended his personal win streak to seven when he made 22 saves on 24 shots in Wednesday’s win over Gwinnett. That streak was snapped when he was the goaltender of record in Saturday’s loss to Evansville. In that game, he allowed five goals in 22 shots in 49 minutes of play. Teammate Riley Gill substituted in for the third period in that game. That marked the second time this season that Anderson, who has now had two separate seven-game winning streaks this seasonO, has won 10 of his last 12 decisions (and 17 of his last 20 decisions). In thirty-three appearances for Reading this year, Anderson has compiled a record of 21-9-1-0. His 21 wins is tied for third most in the league. His 2.37 goals against average is seventh best in the league. He has stopped 741 of the 813 shots he’s faced for a .911 save percentage.
55. Goaltender Riley Gill snapped a two game winless streak (0-1-1-0) when he made 32 saves on 34 shots on Friday in Kalamazoo to beat the K-Wings 4-2. Gill also came on to play the third period in Saturday’s 5-3 loss in Evansville, making all six saves he was called upon to make. He was not the goaltender of decision in that game. In thirty-three appearances with the Royals, Gill has compiled a record of 17-12-1-1 with a 2.56 goals against average (12th in the league) and a .915 save percentage.
