April 30, 2010

Cincinnati, OH – The Reading Royals of the ECHL (1-0-0), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, defeated the Cincinnati Cyclones (0-1-0), 5-2, in Game One of their American Conference Final Series at U.S Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The win, which was the sixth consecutive post-season victory for the Royals (who are now 8-0-2 in the post-season), gives Reading a one-game-to-none lead in the best-of-seven third round playoff series. For the ninth time in ten post-season contests, the Royals scored first and built a 3-0 lead before the Cyclones mounted a come-back effort, making it a one-goal game in the third period until Reading pulled away down the stretch. Olivier Labelle registered the first playoff hattrick in Royals’ team history. Goaltender Matt Dalton (8-0-2; 36/38) made a number of critical stops in clutch moments to remain unbeaten in regulation in the playoffs. Cincinnati’s Jeremy Smith (7-5-1; 23/27; 1 eng) was also good at the other end of the ice, particularly right off the hop at the start of the game, when Reading created several quality chances but were unable to capitalize. The Royals’ special teams were perfect on the night, scoring on both power play chances the team had (2-2) and blanking the Cyclones power play in six chances with the man advantage.

Reading struck 6:56 into the game on the team’s first power play chance of the night. Ryan Cruthers took possession on the left half wall, attacked the circle, and slipped a pass to Daniel Steiner who was planted below the goal line on the left side. Steiner walked the line and feathered a cross-crease pass to Olivier Labelle who had gained inside position on the weak side. Labelle forced it in for his league-leading eighth goal of the playoff season. Labelle bagged his second of the night after exiting the penalty box on a late period slashing penalty. As he stepped out of the box, Marc Cavosie sprang him on a break on the right wing side. Labelle carried deep into the right circle and ripped rocket low stick side for his second of the night and ninth of the playoff season.

The Royals took a 3-0 lead at the 3:58 mark of the second after a broken play in the neutral zone, which provided Rob Kwiet an opportunity to slip the puck up the left wing side into the Cincinnati’s end. Andrew Sarauer tracked the puck down and fired a snap shot from deep on the left side that fluttered in after deflecting off Smith’s upper body. The Cyclones got on the board at the 8:52 mark of the second when Cincinnati’s Hans Benson forced a turnover at the offensive blue line and fed Brett Robinson for a quick snap shot from the high slot that went post-and-in for his fourth of the playoff season.

The Cyclones cut the Royals’ lead to one (3-2) 7:44 into the third period when another blue line turnover resulted in Mark Van Guilder carrying deep on the left wing side in Reading’s defensive end. Van Guilder slid a perfect pass to Robinson who snuck up on the back door for his second in a row and fifth of the playoff season. The Royals re-gained the two goal lead at the 12:11 mark of the third on their second power play chance of the night, when Ben Gordon fired a shot from the right point that Labelle re-directed low stick side to complete the hattrick with his tenth of the playoff season. The Cyclones pressed down the stretch, particularly on a couple of late game power play chances; but the Royals and Dalton held strong and ultimately iced it with a 140 foot empty netter by Gavin Morgan while the Cyclones had a six-on-four skating advantage with 23.1 seconds left in regulation.

The Royals and Cyclones go at in again tomorrow (Saturday, May 1, 2010 @ 7:30 pm) in Game Two of the American Conference Finals at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Royals game night broadcast will kick off at 7:00 pm on the Royals’ Radio Network presented by Transmissions by Arbogast.