BEAST
Brampton

5-2

ROYALS
Reading

Lineup

Forward lines and defense pairings: 

[one_half]Crisp – Pacan – Marino
Vallorani – MacLean – Pither
Auger – Blain – Ling[/one_half]

[one_half_last]Petgrave – Henry
Traccitto – Thrower
Corrin – Billingsley[/one_half_last]

Goaltenders:

D’Agostini
Izyk

Scratches: Justin Baker, Daultan Leveille, Guillaume Asselin, Lucas Venuto, Mathieu Gagnon, Ian Harris, Mike Folkes, Corey Durocher, Mitch Zion

Injured Reserve: 

Game Report

After disappointment on Friday night when they dropped a game on the road against the Wheeling Nailers, and traveling all night to arrive in eastern Pennsylvania, the Brampton Beast took to the ice at the Santander Arena on Saturday night looking to clinch a playoff berth against the Reading Royals.  The Royals were looking to accomplish the same task, so the evening proved to hold big stakes for both clubs.

Matt Willows wasted no time in lighting the lamp as he got the Royals on the board just over a minute into the game.  Then game slowed down for the remainder of the first period, as both teams took some time to cautiously feel each other out.

Reading had one power play opportunity in the period, but the Brampton penalty killers didn’t provide any space for them to get near Andrew D’Agostini. The penalty that caused the man advantage, a tripping call on Luke Pither, was the only penalty called in the entire game. David Pacan took an opportunity with just 46 seconds remaining in the opening from to tie the game 1-1.

The second period brought another trade in goals. Pacan struck again, this time with the help of Connor Crisp and Brandon Marino. Despite making two solid saves in a Reading net rush, D’Agostini’s third rebound couldn’t be cleared by the defense and Steven Swavely took full advantage to equalize the score once again.

Things really picked up in the final frame in terms of pace, intensity, and scoring.  Both teams came out with much more energy and determination, and Brampton seemed to find the key to solving Mark Dekanich.  Just two minutes into the third period, Crisp and Marino set Pacan up for a hat trick after which Pacan notched a primary assist on the night on a goal by Willie Corrin.  The Beast sealed the win, and earned that guaranteed spot in the playoffs, when Pacan finished his five-point night by potting an empty-netter for his 40th goal of the season.

The Beast now return to Brampton to finish out the regular season with three games this week: one against the Nailers and two against the Manchester Monarchs.

▲     Jordan Henry, David Pacan, Connor Crisp, Brandon Marino

▼     Luke Pither, Luc-Olivier Blain

1. David Pacan  BRM
2. Brandon Marino  BRM
3. Matt Willows  REA

Post-game interview with Colin Chaulk

Post-game interview with Dalton Thrower

Post-game interview with Connor Crisp

Post-game interview with Brandon MacLean

Quotes courtesy of AHL Report

BREAKING: The @BramptonBeast have officially clinched their spot in the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs ✅ pic.twitter.com/zgURfdrg0t

— ECHL (@ECHL) April 2, 2017

With four goals and an assist, David Pacan was named first star as the @BramptonBeast beat the @RRoyalsHockey 5-2. @ECHL @RocketSports pic.twitter.com/KUvokfmNLo

— AHL Report (@TheAHLReport) April 2, 2017

Goals last night: 4⃣🚨
Goals this season: 4⃣0⃣🚨
David Pacan: 🔥@PacmanTWOTWO #RoarAsOne pic.twitter.com/HXeNirxXVe

— Brampton Beast (@BramptonBeast) April 2, 2017

Follow @theAHLReport on Twitter