Back at the Arena on Friday night for game #2 with Norfolk. It was Wall Of Honor night, former Royal defenseman and assistant coach Nick Luukko (2015-2020) was enshrined in pregame ceremonies. As they did on Wednesday the visiting Admirals took a 1-0 lead into the second period. The Royals pulled even on a score by ex-Admiral Tag Bertuzzi but surrendered the lead thirty-five seconds later, another Norfolk marker fifty-three seconds after that made it 3-1 and put the Royals squarely behind the proverbial 8-ball. Six minutes into the third period Shane Sellar brought the club back to within one, goals by Mason Millman and Ryan Cox thirty-seven seconds apart midway through the period gave the Royals a 4-3 advantage. Norfolk did not go away (not that anyone especially expected them to), they netted the tying goal in the final three minutes to send the game into the dreaded overtime. In the ECHL regular season overtime is a seven-minute period played three-on-three plus goalies. just under five minutes in newcomer Dajon Mingo lit the lamp to give the Royals a huge 5-4 victory. Mingo is a nine-year veteran with over 360 ECHL games on his resume, he was added to lend some veteran stability to a defense corps thinned by injury and recall. Nolan Maier was the goaltender of record as the club improves to 23-26-7, 14-14-3 at home. There was little rest for the weary, the Royals were immediately back in action on Saturday night in the first of a five-game road trip, the next home date is on Friday the 22nd. Saturday night was the semi-annual clock change, we all lost an hour's sleep that we won't get back until November. It always takes me a few days to adjust although it's easier at this time of year simply because sunset comes a hour later. Take care, thanks for reading.
