The Royals got embarrassed by the Thunder at home on Friday 8-3. Travelling to Glens Falls the next day for the rematch, I was expecting them to come out with a much better effort. With their top goalie (Komm) injured, second goalie (Lotz) called up, and third goalie (Redmond) injured, it would take a better all around effort with Niedert filling in between the pipes. They managed to avoid the sloppy line changes, bad turnovers, and missed clears from the night before, and Nick was clearly up to the task as well. I was watching on ECHL.tv and only the Thunder announcer was available. He kept commenting on how much better the Royals played in their own zone - blocking shots, keeping the Thunder to the outside, limiting the high percentage scoring chances, and not giving up breakaways and odd man rushes to the Thunder. Great team win by the Royals, but the Thunder are going to be a tough team to beat all year. Really aggressive on the forecheck and backcheck, as well as penalty kill, skilled offensively and good chemistry on the top line.