The Reading Royals (39-24-6) played their final game at the Norfolk Scope Arena on Saturday night against the Norfolk Admirals (20-44-5) in their three-game series. Coming into this game, the Royals led the season series 6-3.
Two minutes and eighteen seconds into the first period, Stepan Timofeyev (16) put the Admirals up 1-0 with a power play goal. Eric Cooley and Mathieu Roy assisted with his goal. With seventeen seconds left, Brian Bowen (19) scored for a 2-0 lead with assists from Mathieu Roy and Ryan Foss. The Royals had eight shots but trailed the Admirals 2-0 after one period.
Three minutes and thirty-one seconds into the second period, Stepan Timofeyev (17) made it 3-0 Norfolk with an assist from Eric Cooley. With under three minutes left, Denis Smirnov (7) scored and it was now 4-0 Admirals. Alex Pommerville and Danny Katic assisted with his goal. The Royals had 11 shots on goal and continued to trail Norfolk 4-0 after two periods.
Fifty-seven seconds into the third period, Max Newton (32) ended the shutout bid with a goal. It was now 4-1 Norfolk. Solag Bakich and Evan Barratt assisted with his goal. The Royals pulled Pat Nagle late in the game and Blake Murray (9) scored an empty net goal for a 5-1 lead. Stepan Timofeyev and Josh McDougall assisted with his goal.
The Royals lost to the Admirals by the final score of 5-1. They finished the night with 32 shots, 0-4 on the power play, and Pat Nagle made 22 saves. On the other side, the Admirals had 27 shots, 1-2 on the power play, and Cale Morris made 31 saves.
The Royals and Admirals will play for the final time of the season on Wednesday from the Santander Arena at 7 pm. Tickets for the game are available on StubHub and Viagogo.
