The Reading Royals (16-6-1) won their fourth straight game on Wednesday night at the Santander Arena with a wild 6-5 win over the Maine Mariners (12-11-1). This was the fifth meeting between these two teams with the Royals leading the season series 4-1.
Seven minutes and thirty-one seconds into the first period. Maine took a 1-0 lead on a shorthanded goal by Patrick Shea (10) with assists from Nick Jermain and Fedor Gordeev. A minute and nine seconds later, the Royals tied it up 1-1 on a power play goal by Shane Sellar (7). Dominic Cormier and Mason Millman assisted his goal.
Twenty-eight seconds later, Charlie Gerard (6) put the Royals up 2-1 with assists from Max Newton and Will MacKinnon. Late in the first period, Jacob Gaucher (6) scored a power-play goal to extend Reading’s lead to 3-1 with assists by Mason Millman and Kaden Fulcher. The Royals led 3-1 after one period.
Seven minutes and fifty-eight seconds into the second period. Charlie Gerard (7) scored his second goal of the night to make it 4-1 with an assist by Evan Barratt. Then, the Mariners stormed back to score three straight goals by Alex-Olivier Voyer (4), Keltie Jeri-Leon (3), and Alex Kile (5) to tie the game 4-4.
Late in the second period, Jacob Gaucher (7) scored his goal of the night to put the Royals up 5-4 with assists from Alec Butcher and Brendan Hoffmann. The Royals led 5-4 after two periods.
A minute and twenty-four seconds into the third period. Maine tied the game 5-5 on a goal by Patrick Shea (11) with assists from Alex Kile and Andrew Peski. Twelve minutes and sixteen seconds later, Alec Butcher (3) scored the game-winning goal 6-5 with assists from Colin Felix and Shane Sellar.
The Royals finished with 35 shots, 2/2 on the power play, and Kaden Fulcher made 29 saves. On the other side, the Mariners had 34 shots, 0/3 on the power play, and Francois Brassard made 29 saves.
The Royals hit the road for their last game before the Christmas break on Friday against the Norfolk Admirals at 7:05 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub.
