Reading, PA – The Adirondack Thunder were unable to solve Reading netminder John Muse as they fell 2-0 to the Royals on Friday evening at Santander Arena.
Muse led the way on the evening with a 30-save effort to earn his first shutout of the season for the Royals. Adirondack netminder Drew Fielding turned aside 27 of the 29 shots he faced in while Ty Loney recorded five shots on goal in the defeat.
The Royals opened the scoring just over five minutes into the game as they converted on the man advantage to take a 1-0 lead. Stationed on the right-hand half wall, Reading forward Mark Naclerio fed teammate Matt Willows below the goal line, where he drove to the front of the net and slid his shot under Fielding for the game’s first goal. Naclerio and defenseman Nolan Zajac had the assists on Willows’ fifth goal of the season.
Reading added a second goal goal early in the middle stanza to open up a two-goal advantage less than four minutes in. Zajac wheeled around the offensive net, all the way to the high slot, where his shot was blocked by the Adirondack defense, but the rebound fell to forward Adam Schmidt, who backhanded it through his legs and past Fielding for the goal. Zajac and Naclerio collected the assists on the play, the second of the evening for both players.
The Thunder conclude their road trip with a 6-5-1 record and finally return home for the first time in 12 games as they host a rematch against the Royals tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m., which begins a seven-game homestand at Cool Insuring Arena. Tickets are still available for tomorrow evening’s action by calling 518-480-3355 x1 or by visiting the arena tomorrow.
