READING, PA – The Reading Royals defeated the Adirondack Thunder, 2-0, Friday at Santander Arena to move to 7-0-0-0 at home, matching Reading’s best home start ever. John Muse made 29 saves in his first shutout of the season.
In 2005-06, the Royals started with the same mark at Santander Arena.
The Royals are fourth in the North Division with a 9-5-1-0 mark, good for 19 points. The squad is 4-0-0-0 against the Thunder.
Muse denied 15 shots in the third. Drew Fielding lost and had 26 saves.
Matt Willows scored five minutes into the game on the man up, giving the Royals power-play tallies in consecutive games. Adam Schmidt’s second-period strike provided insurance. Mark Naclerio had two assists.
The Royals opened the scoring on the power play at 5:09 of the first. Willows started at the left post, danced in front of the net and snuck one under Fielding’s pads. Naclerio and Nolan Zajac took the assists. Reading has scored the first goal in 11 of 15 games this season.
Schmidt scored his second of the season at 3:45 of the second. Ryan Penny shot the puck from the deep slot and it bounced to Schmidt net front. Standing with his body facing away from the net, Schmidt backhanded it in. Naclerio had the secondary assist. Muse added eight saves in the second.
The Royals and Thunder will square off again Saturday night, this time in Glens Falls at 7 p.m. before Reading returns home on Sunday to host the Wheeling Nailers at 4 p.m.
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