Royals hold off Florida, take Game 2

READING, PA – The Reading Royals blew three different one-goal leads, but the fourth one was the charm as they hung on for a 5-4 win over the Florida Everblades in Game Two of their best of seven series. Due to a scheduling conflict the next four games are to be played in Florida before coming back to Reading for Game Seven.

The question now is how the Blades recover from a 2-0 hole in the series that might not make it back to Pennsylvania. The Royals offense continues its torrid pace and now has 32 goals in only seven playoff games, but despite allowing 25 goals, their goaltending has been solid, thanks to Matt Dalton, who is 5-0 in regulation and who’s only two losses have come in overtime. Dalton made 38 saves on 42 shots, while Reading made the most of their 34 shots on goal. The penalty killing unit has been doing exactly that; killing the Royals. All three of Florida’s goals were on the power play and two of those goals were scored almost immediately after Reading had just scored to take the lead. The Royals took the lead 48 seconds into the game, but from then on it was a tug-and-go affair to see who would score the last goal of the game. Daniel Steiner had Readings last two goals of the game, including the eventually game winner, 14:11 into the third period to give the Royals a 5-3 lead. Florida made life interesting one last time, as Ryan Lang scored off of a rebound around the Royals net.
After the goal, the Blades put on the pressure, but could not tie it up the rest of the way. The series resumes Saturday for game three with game four on Tuesday in Estero, Florida. Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com