READING, PA – Giorgio Estephan was the overtime hero as the Growlers topped the Royals 4-3 Saturday night at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Riley Woods opened the scoring for the Growlers just 1:43 into the game after tipping a blast from Joseph Duszak beating Reading goalie Kirill Ustimenko. The Growlers added another later in the frame as Aaron Luchuk banged in the puck after being fed a pass from Riley Woods who was stationed behind the Reading goal. Brayden Low cut the Growlers lead to just one goal before the teams retreated to their dressing rooms after 20 minutes of play.
Newfoundland registered 17 shots in the second while Reading managed to get 6 but Ralph Cuddemi beat Angus Redmond to tie the game a 2, five minutes into the middle frame.
The Growlers and the Royals traded goals in the third period, Marcus Power connected on the power play and Brayden Low responded for the Royals. Neither team could accomplish a game-winner in regulation time but after a fast-paced back and forth overtime period, Estephan finally beat the Royals netminder after jumping on the rebound of an Luchuk breakaway to earn the overtime victory and 2 points for the Growlers.
Angus Redmond made 37 saves in to earn his fourth straight win.
Quick Hits: Dylan Vander Esch made his Growlers debut … Angus Redmond is currently undefeated as a Growler (4-0)… The three stars were 3 – R. Woods (NFL), 2 – B. Low (REA) and 1 – G. Estephan (NFL)
What’s Next: The Newfoundland Growlers take on the ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, the Reading Royals, once again Sunday afternoon at Santander Arena. Puck drop is 5:30 pm Newfoundland time (4 p.m. Eastern time).
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