Darren Brady scored a shorthanded goal that tied the game with 5:25 left in regulation and added the game-winning goal with 3:26 left in overtime as the Reading Royals rallied to edge the Norfolk Admirals 2-1 Wednesday night before 3,004 fans at Scope.
The Admirals (39-21-6-1) still earned a point with the overtime loss to move within one point of North Division-leading Adirondack, which was off on Wednesday.
The Royals (28-33-5-2), who are in last place in the ECHL’s North Division, won their second straight.
Stepan Timofeyev scored Norfolk’s lone goal in the first 2 minutes of the second period. It was his 19th of the season. Brady Fleurent and Darick Louis-Jean picked up assists on the play.
Reading goalie Parker Gahagen was the No. 2 star of the game behind Brady, collecting 32 saves for the victory.
Admirals goalie Yaniv Perets had 21 saves.
Norfolk outshot Reading 33-23, but went 0 for 5 on the power play.
The Admirals only have two games remaining in the regular season because their final three games, all against Newfoundland, were canceled since the Growlers ceased operations and were terminated from the ECHL.
Norfolk’s playoff seeding will be determined by points percentage.
The Admirals and Reading will meet again at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Scope.
