READING, Pa – If it is true that payback is a bitch, by this time next week, the Reading Royal and Cincinnati Cyclones will surely find out of that old saying is true. The purple and silver have waited one long year for a shot at redemption after the history making loss and the hands of the Cyclone. Not only did Reading get knocked out of the playoffs in historic fashion, leaving the Royals one game away from the Kelly Cup finals, but the Cyclones went on to win the league championship.
The Royals faced the Cyclones four times this season and won the season series 3-1. Reading won both games at the Sovereign Center in overtime and was 1-1 in Cincinnati. In fact, three of the four games against each other went into overtime. Cincinnati won the only game decided in regulation. Reading has a 21-21-4 all time regular season record against Cincinnati.
This season the Royals went 2-17 on the power play against Cincinnati; while the Cyclones went 2-14 against Reading. This is the third playoff match-up between in the two teams’ respective history. The Cyclones have ended the last 2 playoff runs for the Royals. The most recent time was in memorable fashion when Cincinnati came from behind down 3-0 in the series to win in seven games in the American Conference Finals. Prior to that Cincinnati won in seven games in the 2008 North Division finals.
The Royals set franchise records for wins (44) and tied for team best in points (93). The Royals led the league in scoring (257 goals) and finished ninth in goals allowed (220). The Cyclones allowed more goals (229) than they scored (199). Despite the goals scored Reading had only one scorer in the top 20 in points (67, 12th) but they did have 10 players with 10 or more goals and 5 players with 20 or more.
The Cyclones did not have a scorer in the top 20 but they did have 8 players with 10 or more goals but only one player with over 20 in Dustin Spoat (21). In net the Cyclones are without their top netminder Marc Cheverie. Another fellow rookie, Brian Foster, will most likely get the call if Cheverie can’t make a go of it.
The Royals are affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins while Cincinnati is affiliated with Florida and Nashville.
Series Schedule
Game 1 – Tuesday, April 5 at 7:05 p.m. ET at Reading Game 2 – Wednesday, April 6 at 7:05 p.m. ET at Reading Game 3 – Friday, April 8 at 7:35 p.m. ET at Cincinnati Game 4 – Saturday, April 9 at 7:35 p.m. ET at Cincinnati (If Necessary) Game 5 – Monday, April 11 at 7:05 p.m. ET at Reading (If Necessary)
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