April 1-3

The Royals began the new month with a Friday night win in Wheeling, on Saturday we were back in downtown Reading for a back-to-back with the Norfolk Admirals. The Ads entered the weekend out of contention for a playoff spot but you would have never known it, both games were a battle-and-a-half. In the opener on Saturday the Royals led early on a score by Yannick Tifu but Norfolk scored twice in the second period to take a 2-1 lead. Nikita Kashirsky tied it late in the period, with four minutes left in regulation time Tifu struck again for the GWG as the Royals prevailed 3-2. Rookie goaltender Matt Skoff (the Penn State product) picked up the win in his professional debut. In the Sunday rematch the Admirals took a 1-0 lead in the second period, that edge held up until the midpoint of the third period when all hell broke loose. The Royals caught a break when Mike Marcou's shot deflected off a Norfolk defender into the net to tie the game, moments later Mike Pereira (back from the AHL) put the Royals ahead in exactly the same fashion. At that point Norfolk frustration boiled over, on the ensuing power play Pereira netted his second of the game to make the final score 3-1. Adam Morrison got the start in goal on this day and earned his second win of the weekend. The Royals' overall record improves to 36-24-10, 16-14-5 at the Arena. Over the last twelve games the mark is 9-1-2, the club appears to be coming together at the right time with several returnees from the AHL filtering down and getting back into the lineup. The Royals are on the cusp of clinching a playoff spot, it could happen before they next play on Friday the 8th in Wheeling. That is the first of a back-to-back with the Nailers, the teams finish the regular season at the Arena on Saturday the 9th. Take care, thanks for reading.