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Reading Royals Review, March 22 – April 4

The Royals Review

(March 22-April 4)

READING, Pa. – It’s official. If Leaf fans want to see any of their team’s players involved in North American playoff hockey this spring, they’ll have to keep their eyes on the Reading Royals. Though the Maple Leafs and Marlies are on the outs in their respective leagues, the Leafs’ ECHL farm team in Reading clinched a spot in the Kelly Cup Playoffs in the second-last game of the season and will start the postseason against the Kalamazoo Wings in a best-of-five American Conference Quarterfinal showdown.

Of the eight players who have seen playing time with both the Marlies and Royals this year, all but the injured Robert Slaney are on Reading’s playoff roster. And all of them, save Andrew Engelage, have been assigned to Reading to start the playoffs. With that kind of extra manpower, the Royals have the potential to do some damage during their first time in the postseason as a Toronto affiliate.

Here’s what the Toronto-contracted players have been up to over the past two weeks (with final ECHL regular season statistics).

Alex Berry – Finished the regular season with the Marlies. (5GP-0G-5A- +2 -2 PIM)

Stefano Giliati – The LW from Montreal who started the season on a high note as the ECHL’s first Player of the Week, also ended the season on a tear. He scored 37 points (15G – 22A) in his last 25 games with Reading and had to settle for the third star of the game after his four-assist night in the regular season finale against Trenton. If the Royals advance in the playoffs, it’s likely he’ll play a significant role. (46GP-23G-32A- +9 – 76PIM)

b>Ben Gordon–Although the LW from International Falls, Minn., lost a bit of steam as the regular season wound to an end, he still finished with at least a point in 14 of his last 17 ECHL games. He led the team with 213 shots and finished tied for 12th in league scoring. During a regular-season ending ceremony he was given both the Fan’s Choice Award and the Star of the Season Award. It’s hard to imagine the Royals would have made the playoffs without him. (Under contract to Reading.) (56GP-24G-45A- +6 -57 PIM)

Todd Perry – Completed the regular season with the Marlies. (5GP-0G-1A- -2 -0 PIM)

Joey Ryan– After another stint with the Marlies, the second-year pro D from Stoneham, Mass. returned and earned his third goal of the year in the second-last game which Reading won to clinch a playoff spot. (32GP-3G-6A- -1 -43 PIM)

Greg Scott– Finished the regular season with the Marlies. (5GP-1G-1A- -4 -2 PIM)

Robert Slaney — Also completed the regular season with the Marlies. (22GP-1G – 10A – -10 – 22PIM)

Andrew Engelage – The rookie G has bounced up and down between the Royals and Marlies so many times, he’s probably lost count. He only played in five home games for Reading
and ended the regular season with the Marlies after Joey McDonald’s recall to Anaheim. (11GP-7W-3L-3.89GAA-.887 SV%)

Barry Schickling can be contacted atBarry.DoubleSMedia@rocketmail.com

Rangers thump Leafs 5-1

Leafs scorers: Phaneuf (11)
Rangers scorers: Christensen 2 (8), Prospal (20), Jokinen (15), Voros (3)
Links: Game Summary | Stats | Discussion boards

Forward lines: Kulemin-Grabovski-Kessel, Stalberg-Bozak-Hanson, Mitchell-Wallin-Caputi, Orr-Lundmark-Sjostrom
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Beauchemin, Kaberle-Schenn, Finger-Gunnarsson
Goaltenders: Gustavsson (Loss, 60:00 minutes played, 27 saves, 5 GA), Giguere (0:00)
Noteworthy:
-Dion Phaneuf scored his first goal as a Maple Leaf; his first tally in 25 games (January 30 vs. Edmonton, while with Calgary).
-The Leafs’ power-play goal drought was extended to 9 games (0-for-34).

Leafs sputter in home finale

Leafs scorers: (none)
Flyers scorers: Giroux (16), Richards (29)
Links: Game Summary | Stats | Discussion boards

Forward lines: Kulemin-Grabovski-Kessel, Stalberg-Bozak-Hanson, Mitchell-Wallin-Caputi, Orr-Primeau-Sjostrom
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Beauchemin, Kaberle-Schenn, Exelby-Gunnarsson
Goaltenders: Giguere (Loss, 58:59 minutes played, 21 saves, 1 GA), Gustavsson (0:00), empty net (1 GA)
Noteworthy:
-The Leafs finished their home season with a record of 18-17-6 over 41 games.
-Toronto’s power-play went 0-for-6, and has not scored in 30 consecutive opportunities over the past eight games.

Leafs fall in OT to playoff-hungry Bruins

Leafs scorers: Orr (4)
Bruins scorers: Satan 2 (8)
Links: Game Summary | Stats | Discussion boards

Forward lines: Kulemin-Grabovski-Kessel, Stalberg-Bozak-Hanson, Mitchell-Irwin-Caputi, Wallin-Sjostrom-Orr
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Beauchemin, Kaberle-Schenn, Exelby-Gunnarsson
Goaltenders: Gustavsson (OT/Loss, 63:21 minutes played, 28 saves, 2 GA), Giguere (0:00),
Noteworthy:
-Orr’s goal was his fourth of the year; his previous career best for one season was two goals.
-Phil Kessel was held to just one point (one assist) in six head-to-head games against his former team in 2009-10.
-Bruins defenceman is cleared to play tonight against Washington after having his wrist cut by Nikolai Kulemin’s skate in last night’s game. Seidenberg, bleeding severely, left the game in the first period and did not return.

Blueliners find the net in Leafs win

Leafs scorers: Stalberg (8), Exelby (1), Schenn (5), Sjostrom (3)
Sabres scorers: Roy (23), Montador (5)
Links: Game Summary | Stats | Discussion boards

Forward lines: Kulemin-Grabovski-Kessel, Stalberg-Bozak-Hanson, Mitchell-Irwin-Caputi, Wallin-Sjostrom-Orr
Defence pairings: Phaneuf-Beauchemin, Kaberle-Schenn, Exelby-Gunnarsson
Goaltenders: Giguere (Win, 60:00 minutes played, 22 saves, 2 GA), Gustavsson (0:00),
Noteworthy:
-Garnet Exelby scored his first goal since December 18, 2007 while a member of the Atlanta Thrashers, ending a personal 154-game goal scoring drought. The goal leaves Christian Hanson as the only Leaf player (not counting Brayden Irwin) without a goal this year. “I want (Hanson) to know that if he ever wants to talk, I’m there for him!” joked Exelby after the game.
-Irwin logged 10:29 of ice time in his NHL debut. The rookie had an excellent scoring chance in the second period, facing a wide open net before Sabres defenceman Tyler Myers knocked the puck off Irwin’s stick before a shot could be fired.
-The win ended a 10-game losing streak by the Leafs against Buffalo.