Offense, defense both click in Royals victory

MANCHESTER, NH – Jack Riley (1 goal, 1 assist) and Steven Swavely (2 assists) netted multi-point games and the Reading Royals scored the first three goals to capture a 4-2 victory over the Manchester Monarchs Saturday at SNHU Arena. The Royals have won three straight games, their longest win streak of the season. Reading possesses a 3-0-0-1 road record, best in the Eastern Conference.

While the offense starred, Branden Komm blocked 36 shots, yielding to Chris Carlisle in the second and Zeb Knutson in the third. After Carlisle’s goal, Adam Schmidt tallied his third of the season to extend Reading’s lead back to three goals, 4-1.

The Royals caught fire in the opening nine minutes, providing the squad a 2-0 lead after the first. Riley scored for the second straight game at 2:59 and Frank DiChiara netted his fourth of the season at 8:35.

Josh MacDonald scored his fourth of the season halfway through the second.

Michael Huntebrinker earned an assist in the first and possesses a seven-game point streak, econd-best in the league.

Brandon Wildung made 32 saves in defeat.

A back-door set up gave Reading a 1-0 edge at 2:59 of the first. Steve Johnson tossed it from the top of the left circle and through the slot to Riley, who deflected past his former college roommate Wildung at the right post two feet from cage. Steven Swavely netted the secondary helper.

Next, DiChiara beat Wildung from the left face-off dot with a snipe to the top shelf, short-side. Huntebrinker twisted it from the left corner to DiChiara.

With 10:05 left in the second, Josh MacDonald caught the puck and came in one-on-one to the right slot. The left-handed shot back-handed it over Wildung’s shoulder to extend the lead to 3-0. Alex Krushelnyski and Ilya Nekolenko (first ECHL point) garnered helpers.

After giving up a goal four minutes later, Reading settled and scored in the final minute of the middle period. Swavely wafted it to the mid slot and Schmidt ripped it by Wildung to re-ignite the three-goal margin.

Knutson cut the Royals lead to 4-2 with a strike at 18:47 of the third. Each team failed to score on the man up (Royals 0-for-2, Monarchs 0-for-3).

Reading next takes to the ice on Wednesday, November 7th at 7 p.m against the Maine Mariners.