November 1-3

Stopped by the rink on Friday morning and found it every bit the shipwreck I expected, had there been games scheduled on Thursday there's no way we would have played. On Saturday we were back at the Arena for the second game of the Royals' three-game homestand. The Norfolk Admirals were in town for the first of their three regular-season visits, the Ads are one of four non-divisional opponents on the Royals schedule. This night featured a visit from Gotham City superhero Batman and arch-criminal The Joker, after the pregame ceremonial puck drop the characters signed autographs and posed for photos on the concourse. The game was scoreless into the second period, Matthew Gaudreau gave the Royals a 1-0 lead before the Ads replied to even it up. Midway through the period Frank Diachiara put the Good Guys back ahead, early in the third defenseman David Drake (not known as a goal scorer) found the twine making it 3-1 Royals. Norfolk made it close with a late tally but Karill Ustimenko locked it up from there for the 3-2 win. On Sunday the Adirondack Thunder visited for the first time since preseason, they are scheduled for three appearances at the Arena during the regular season. As it was on Saturday the game was 0-0 at the first intermission, in the early going of the second period Ralph Cuddemi found the net to put the Royals on the board. That one goal would be the only goal, Felix Sandstrom got the start in net and made it stand up for a tough 1-0 victory. It is Sandstrom's first shutout as a professional in North America and the first whitewash for the Royals as a team in 2019-20. The three-game homestand sweep improves the club's mark to 6-3-1, 4-1 at home. Since losing the home opener on October 19 by two goals the club has recorded four one-goal wins on home ice, the next date at the Arena is Saturday the 9th with old rival Wheeling. Take care, thanks for reading.