READING, PA – The Reading Royals (18-14-2-0) slayed the Brampton Beast (14-12-1-2), 3-2, Friday night at Santander Arena. John Muse tied a season high with 41 saves and is 10-3-1-0 on the season. He made 13 saves in the third and is 4-0-0-0 since returning from the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
The Royals kicked off their five-game home stand with a victory to move within one point of the Adirondack Thunder for second in the North Division.
Captain Derek Whitmore opened the scoring with an unassisted power-play goal at 12:23 in the first period. The Beast turned over the puck in front of their net, resulting in Whitmore pushing the puck by netminder Andrew D’Agostini’s post and left skate for the 1-0 lead. D’Agostini made 30 saves in defeat.
The Beast countered at 1:40 of the middle frame as Willie Corrin solved Muse’s glove side for his second of the season and first goal since returning from his time in the AHL. The Royals regained their lead with Ryan Penny and Chris McCarthy each tallying their ninth goals of the season. Royals leading play makers, Mark Naclerio and Matt Willows each tallied their 17th assists of the season on the second-period goals. Reading led by two, 3-1, after two.
After Muse denied a Beast forward with his toe, Penny came up the ice and snuck it in, assisted by Naclerio and Scott Tanski at 4:34.
Willows and Huntebrinker assisted on the next goal eight minutes later from McCarthy.
The Royals were able to preserve their lead throughout the third period despite giving up a goal in the final six minutes of regulation time to Luc-Olivier Blain.
Reading was 1-for-2 on the power play while Brampton never had a man advantage.
Reading and Worcester face each other three straight games at Santander Arena, beginning Saturday, January 6th at 7 p.m.
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