The Reading Royals (31-20-3) started a four-game road trip on Wednesday against the Trois-Rivieres Lions (22-32-2) at the Colisée Vidéotron for the fourth time in less than a week. This was the seventh meeting of the year between these two teams. The Royals were 5-1 against the Lions coming into this game.
After a scoreless first period, the Lions struck first five minutes and fifty seconds into the second period on a goal by Ryan Francis (16) for a 1-0 lead.
Thomas Caron and Brett Stapley assisted with his goal. The Lions led 1-0 after two periods, and the Royals had 22 shots in the first two periods.
Six minutes and fifty seconds into the third period, the Lions extended their lead to 2-0 on a goal by Santino Centorame (2). Cedric Montminy assisted with his goal. A minute and thirty seconds later, James Phelan (3) made it 3-0 Lions with assists by Brett Stapley and Connor Welsh.
The Lions tacked on one more goal at 17:45 by Cédric Lacroix (4) with assists from Brendan Soucie and Connor Welsh. It was now 4-0 Lions.
A minute later, the Royals ended the shutout when Shane Sellar (13) scored a power play goal. The Royals trailed the Lions 4-1. Mason Millman and Garrett McFadden assisted with his goal.
The Royals lost to the Lions by the final score of 4-1. They are now on a two-game winless streak and 5-5 in their last ten games. Reading finished the night with 32 shots, 1-4 on the power play, and Pat Nagle made 23 saves. On the other side, the Lions had 27 shots, 0-1 on the power play, and Joe Vrbetic made 31 saves.
The Royals continue their four-game road trip on Friday. They will play the Newfoundland Growlers for three games at the Mary Brown’s Centre starting Friday at 5:30 pm. Tickets for the game can be purchased on StubHub.
