The Reading Royals (30-18-3) returned to the Santander Arena on Friday to start a three-game homestand against the Trois-Rivieres Lions (20-31-2). This was the fourth meeting between these teams and the Royals lead the season series 3-0 heading into this game.
Charlie Gerard (25) put the Royals up 1-0 forty-five seconds into the first period with assists from Mason Millman and Pat Nagle. The Lions came back and scored two goals from Matthew Barron (4,5) to take a 2-1 lead.
Seventeen minutes and two seconds into the first period, Brendan Hoffmann (10) tied the game 2-2 with an assist by Jacob Gaucher. A minute later, James Phelan (1) put the Lions back up 3-2 with assists from Cam Cook and Jason Horvath. The Royals tied the game 3-3 with seventeen seconds left on a goal by Colin Felix (5). Jacob Gaucher and Brendan Hoffmann assisted with his goal. The game remained tied 3-3 after one period. The Royals had 14 shots on goal.
Evan Barratt (6) put the Royals up 4-3 ten seconds into the second period with assists from Yvan Mongo and Charlie Gerard. Twelve minutes and six seconds later, the Royals extended their lead to 5-3 on another goal from Charlie Gerard (26). Evan Barratt and Will MacKinnon assisted with his goal. The Lions came roaring back to tie the game 5-5 with goals by James Phelan (2) and Ryan Francis (14). The game remained tied 5-5 after two periods and the Royals had 14 shots in the second period.
Fourteen minutes and fifty-two seconds into the third period, Shane Sellar (12) scored a power play goal to put the Royals back up 6-5. Alec Butcher and Mason Millman assisted with his goal. Two minutes and thirty-four seconds later, Jacob Gaucher (16) scored another power play goal to make it 7-5 Royals. Mason Millman and Alec Butcher assisted with his goal.
The Royals went on to defeat the Lions by the final score of 7-5. They are now on a two-game winning streak and 4-5-1 in their last ten games. Reading had 38 shots, 2-6 on the power play, and Pat Nagle made 27 saves. On the other side, the Lions had 32 shots, 1-4 on the power play, and goalies Joe Vrbetic and Francis Marotte combined with 31 saves.
The two teams will go at it again on Saturday at 7 pm. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub.
