The Reading Royals, proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, lost, 3-2, in overtime to the Trois-Rivieres Lions on Saturday, Nov. 27, at Colisee Videotron. Kirill Ustimenko made 39 saves on 42 shots. Philippe Desrosiers made 28 saves on 30 shots.
Trois-Rivieres opened the scoring five minutes into the game. Julien Nantel, a former seventh round draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche, received the puck off a board-pass from the point. Walking into the slot, Nantel backhanded the puck past the sliding Ustimenko, who saved 17 of 18 first period shots from the Lions, to make it 1-0.
It took 94 seconds for the Lions to add onto their score in the second period. Charles-David Beaudoin put the puck past Ustimenko to make it a “next-goal game,” 2-0. That next goal was scored by Frank DiChiara while on the power play with just over five minutes remaining in the middle frame. He wristed the puck from the right-circle, ripping it past Desrosiers to cut the lead in half, 2-1.
Cam Strong buried the puck early in the third period off a rebound to make it a tie game for his third of the season. Jackson Cressey and Garrett Cecere assisted on the tying score. After numerous chances for both teams, the game went into overtime, and Shawn St.-Amant scored the game-winner on a breakaway to seal the game for the Lions.
The Royals play the Newfoundland Growlers Wednesday, Dec. 1 at 5:30 in Newfoundland.
About the Royals
The Reading Royals, proud affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, are entering their 20th season in the ECHL. They won their first Kelly Cup championship in 2013 and have clinched playoff berths in 10 of the previous 11 seasons. They are four-time division champions. The Berks County Convention Center Authority (BCCCA), founded in 1996, owns the Royals and oversees operations at Santander Arena.