May 12, 2010

Cincinnati, OH – The Reading Royals of the ECHL (3-4-0), affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League and the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League, were defeated by the Cincinnati Cyclones (4-3-0), 1-0, in Game Seven of their American Conference Final Series at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The loss ends the Royals’ season, as the Cyclones advance to the Kelly Cup Finals against the Idaho Steelheads. The Cyclones’ goaltender Robert Mayer stopped all twenty-five shots he faced to register his second shutout in three games against the Royals. Cincinnati’s captain, Barrett Eghoetz, scored the game’s only goal 13:48 into the first period. The win completed the first comeback from a three-games-to-none deficit in a best of seven series in the history of the ECHL. Goaltender Matt Dalton (loss, 10-4-2, 22/23) made a number of spectacular stops, but sustained the hard-luck loss. Mayer (win, 2-0-0-0, 25/25) registered his second perfect game in just three pro playoff starts. Neither team scored on their power play opportunities, as the Royals’ PP was blanked in three chances with the man advantage, while the Cyclones was held off the board in four opportunities on the power play (0-4).

Eghoetz’ goal came while the two teams were playing four aside. The Royals’ Gavin Morgan won a defensive zone face-off, but Dustin Sproat stole below the goal line and slid a pass to the low slot where Eghoetz was waiting. He fired a quick snap shot, and Dalton got a chunk of it with his left shoulder but the puck fluttered into the net for what proved to be the only goal of the game. Reading created several quality chances particularly down the stretch in the third; but Mayer and the stingy Cyclones’ defense held strong and ended the longest playoff run in Royals’ team history.