Penny shines as Royals even series with Beast

BRAMPTON, ONT – For the Reading Royals, going down three games to one in their ECHL North division semifinal series against the Brampton Beast was not something they could afford to do. Thankfully for Pennsylvania’s only ECHL connection, they can breathe a bit easier thanks to Ryan Penny.

Penny’s power play goal late in the third period allowed the Royals to edge the Beast 3-2 on Thursday night at the Powerade Centre in Brampton. The Royals victory now sets up a best-of-three set that begins Saturday night in Brampton.

Reading had two different one-goal leads in the contest before Perry’s power play tally with 5:25 left in regulation gave them the lead for good.

Despite a strong first period which saw Reading outshoot Brampton 15-8, the visitors got just one goal off the stick of Olivier Labelle with just over two minutes left in the frame. Jordan Henry evened the score 12:44 into the second period, setting the stage for a dramatic final frame.

Robbie Czarnik’s second goal of the series put the Royals up 2-1 less than a minute into the third period but was equaled when Brampton’s Brandon MacLean scored at the 4:55 mark. It stayed that way until Penny’s game-winner with the Beast forward Connor Crisp in the penalty box.

Reading goalie Mark Dekanich was brilliant again between the pipes, making 36 saves on 38 shots. Brampton’s Zach Fucale was the tough luck loser, stopping 27 of the 30 shots he faced.