Nailers vs. Royals Game Day Snap Shot

WHEELING NAILERS(0-0-1-0, 1 PT, T-4th North, T-7th East)2 GF, 3 GAPP: 0.0% (0-for-4), T-14thPK: 100.0% (3-for-3), T-1st

25-F-Josh Shalla (1 goal, 1 point in 1 game)72-F-Darryl Lloyd (1 goal, 1 point in 1 game)2-D-Ryan Segalla (1 assist, 1 point in 1 game)5-D-Danny Fick (1 assist, 1 point in 1 game)8-F-Nick Sorkin (1 assist, 1 point in 1 game)17-F-Jordan Kwas (1 assist, 1 point in 1 game)31-G-Doug Carr (0-0-1 record, 2.84 GAA, .909 Sv% in 1 game)

READING ROYALS(1-0-0-0, 2 PTS, T-2nd North, T-4th East)6 GF, 2 GAPP: 50.0% (2-for-4), 1stPK: 75.0% (6-for-8), T-19th

3-F-Chris McCarthy (1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points in 1 game)9-F-Ryan Penny (1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points in 1 game)13-F-Olivier Labelle (2 goals, 2 points in 1 game)23-F-Michael Pelech (2 assists, 2 points in 1 game)12-F-Steven Swavely (1 goal, 1 point in 1 game)3 players tied (1 assist, 1 point in 1 game)31-G-Mark Dekanich (1-0-0, 2.00 GAA, .900 Sv% in 1 game)

Head to Head2015-16 Season Series: Nailers 7, Royals 42015-16 Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 4, Royals 2All-Time Series: Royals 84, Nailers 70All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 39, Royals 37

We Got One, Now Let's Go For TwoThe Wheeling Nailers got their 25th season started on Saturday night with the first of two straight divisional games, as they played host to the Brampton Beast at WesBanco Arena. Both teams had the lead once during regulation time, as Brampton went ahead 1-0 in the first period, while Wheeling had a 2-1 advantage in the early stages of the third stanza. Josh Shalla netted the opening goal of the season for the home squad at the 9:13 mark of the second period, when he converted on a wraparound on the right side of the crease. The second marker went to Darryl Lloyd, who lunged into the crease to whack in a pass by Jordan Kwas, which was originally set up by a Ryan Segalla point shot. Unfortunately for the Nailers, a former member of the organization had the final celebrations, as Luke Pither potted the tying and winning goals for the Beast, who skated away with a 3-2 overtime victory. Doug Carr turned away 30 shots in his Wheeling debut between the pipes.

A Royal Display of ScoringThe Reading Royals also opened their season on Saturday night, doing battle with a fellow North Division foe in the Elmira Jackals at Santander Arena. Reading's offense came out with a surge in the first period, quickly bursting out to a 3-0 lead before the game was 11 minutes old. Olivier Labelle was the first goal scorer of the night, as he returned to the Royals after spending one season in France. Next up was Reading native Steven Swavely, and then Kris Newbury, who was recently signed by the AHL's Bakersfield Condors. The Jackals clawed back with one goal in each of the first two frames, but with ten seconds remaining in period two, the Royals regained a two-goal edge, thanks to Chris McCarthy. Labelle's second of the contest and one more goal by Ryan Penny made the score 6-2 in Reading's favor, which turned out to be the final. Mark Dekanich was the winning netminder, as he made 18 saves.

That's Called a SelloutFor the second straight year, attendance got off to a blazing start, as a sellout crowd of 5,033 made their way to the new look WesBanco Arena to cheer on their local hockey team. Wheeling has now sold out its home opening game in back-to-back seasons, and between the regular season and playoffs, there have been five sellout crowds in the last 50 contests played in West Virginia. The first home game of the season is becoming one of the most popular tickets in town, as the last three years have seen a combined total of 15,117, for an average of 5,039. The only promotion to average a larger number is Education Day at 5,183, and that game (November 15th) will be sold out for the second year in a row. The Nailers currently rank fifth in the ECHL in attendance, with 15 of the 27 teams having skated on home ice. The Wichita Thunder have had the best opening crowd thus far this season at 12,231.

An Interesting Mix of Special TeamsIn their season opening games, Wheeling and Reading had completely different results when it came to special teams. Power play goals were difficult to come by at WesBanco Arena on Saturday night, as the Nailers came up empty on four power plays, while keeping Brampton off of the scoreboard on all three of its chances with the man advantage. Meanwhile, four goals were scored on the man advantage at Santander Arena, with two going each way to the Royals and Jackals. Both of Reading's tallies were accounted for by Olivier Labelle, with Kris Newbury drawing the primary assist on each of them. Charlie Mosey and Mike Radja were the power play goal scorers for Elmira. The Royals were guilty of eight minor penalties on Saturday to the Jackals four.

Two Years in a Row Going This WayThursday night marks the first of seven head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Royals this season, as well as the first of four battles at WesBanco Arena. Through the 15 years of the rivalry, Wheeling has had its struggles against Reading, who has come out on top in 84 of 154 regular season contests. However, during the last two campaigns, the Nailers have begun to turn that number around, winning 14 of the last 23 games played in the regular season. Of course, Wheeling also went on to win the thrilling seven-game playoff series last spring, which ended with Riley Brace's overtime goal on home ice. The seven games in a single season that the two squads will face in 2016-17 is the lowest total since 2009-10, when the two sides clashed only four times. That year, Wheeling and Reading were in different divisions. The Royals will make their next trip to town on Veteran's Day, to close out a five-city road trip, while the Nailers will make their first trip to Pennsylvania on November 30th.