READING, PA – The Reading Royals scored three goals in the last half of the second period and combined to shut out the Norfolk Admirals, 3-0. Callum Booth registered 13 saves (0 goals against) through two periods. Andrew D’Agostini replaced Booth for the third period and blocked ten shots.
In the second, Adam Schmidt scored a short-handed goal, Alex Roos struck on a penalty shot and Bo Pieper netted his first professional goal. The Royals have won their last eight games against Norfolk.
Merrick Madsen made 27 saves (3 goals against) in defeat.
Booth made ten saves in a scoreless first period. Madsen blocked nine.
With 9:16 left in the second and Reading on the penalty kill, Kevin Goumas forced an interception at the Admirals high slot and nudged it to Schmidt. At the base of the right circle, Schmidt wristed in his 10th of the season for a short-handed goal and beat Madsen up high.
Roos and Pieper scored 29 seconds apart to break the game open. On the breakaway with 3:55 left in the middle period, Norfolk whacked Roos with a stick from behind and the Royals were awarded their second penalty shot of the second. On the penalty shot, Roos veered to the top of the left circle, walked to the left slot and beat Madsen on the blocker shot.
Less than a minute later, Tyler Bird generated the next goal and left it for Pieper to strike. Bird motored to the left post and backhanded it off Madsen. Next, Pieper flew in and smacked it by Madsen with the net falling off the moorings.
Reading was 0-for-8 on the power play and Norfolk failed to score on three chances.
The Royals return to the ice on Saturday, January 5th at 6 p.m. when Reading travels north to New Hampshire for a battle against Manchester. The Royals are next at home on Wednesday, January 9th at 7 p.m. vs. Adirondack.
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