Jackals Drop Monday Matinee In Reading, 4-2

READING, PA - Thomas Nesbitt opened the scoring in the first period and Keith Buehler notched his second professional goal, but the Reading Royals scored twice in the first and third to hand the Jackals a 4-2 defeat.

The Jackals jumped ahead of the Royals with a power-play goal on their first man advantage at 9:41 of the first period. Nesbitt received a feed from Taylor Stefishen while stationed on the goal-line, then worked it to Kevin Hart at the point, and received a return pass at the top of the circle before firing a wrist shot past Connor Knapp. Nesbitt's eighth goal of the season extends his point streak to six games. Three minutes later the Royals would respond on their own first power-play opportunity. Mike Marcou beat Travis Fullerton with a slap shot from the point for his fourth goal of the season. Zach Davies and Ryan Cruthers earned the assists on Marcou's power-play goal. Reading would strike once more in the opening frame when Ian Watters collected a turnover in the Jackals' end and found Olivier Labelle in the high slot for a quick snap shot over the shoulder of Fullerton.

Despite getting out-shot 13-6 in the second period, the Jackals would notch the lone goal in the frame. Ryan Rashid and Nesbitt established control deep in Reading's end and Nesbitt found Keith Buehler streaking into the slot. Buehler sniped it top-shelf with a quick shot past Knapp's glove for his second goal of the season. Rashid's helper extended his point streak to five games.

The game went to the third period tied 2-2 and remained knotted until 12:17 of the frame when Olivier Labelle recorded his second goal of the night on the power-play. Pat Mullane and Maxim Lamarche assisted Labelle's team-leading 14th goal of the season. The Jackals pushed for the tying goal, but Matt Hatch's fifth marker of the season at 18:43 provided Reading with the cushion it needed.

Fullerton stopped 27 of 31 shots faced but was handed the loss. Knapp allowed two goals on 29 shots faced and earned the win.