Royals road to recovery almost complete

READING, PA – The road to redemption has been a long and trying one for the Reading Royals, but the disaster that was the 2008-09 season will officially put to rest should the team clinch a playoff spot this week, the last week of the ECHL regular season.
The Royals have a record of 35-28-1-5 (76 points) are tied for seventh place in the American Conference and can clinch a playoff spot should the Trenton Devils lose one of their last two games or if Reading wins two of their last three games. The two teams play in Reading on Saturday night so you can bet the Royals would like to avoid having that game mean something.

The Royals have two road games before then, Elmira on Wednesday night and in Wheeling on Friday. Trenton plays Elmira at home on Friday so the Jackals play a huge part regarding who gets into the playoffs between the two teams. Should the Royals clinch a playoff spot than the question will become what seed will they be; the seventh or eighth seed. Currently they are tied with Toledo with 76 points. The Walleye have three games left in their season, one against Johnstown and two against Kalamazoo.
Who they play in the playoffs also depends on what happens at the top of the conference standings. Currently the race for first overall is a dead heat between Kalamazoo and Charlotte. Both teams have 89 points so the Royals could face either team come playoff time. Cincinnati and South Carolina are also in the hunt for the top spot in the conference standings so don’t count either team out just yet.
Either way the Royals turnaround is a Godsend for a team that struggled all of last season and desperately needed it. Anything can happen in the playoffs but despite the team being seven games over .500, they have allowed more goals (260) than have scored (236). If the team can’t cut down on the goals against they will be one and done come playoff time.
Still, redemption is right around the corner and you can bet now matter how the team makes the playoffs they will be more than glad to take advantage of their new found life.  
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com Contact the photographer at Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com