Nailers vs. Royals Game Day Snap Shot

WHEELING NAILERS(4-3-1-0, 9 PTS, T-4th North, T-7th East)26 GF, 20 GAPP: 22.6% (7-for-31), T-5thPK: 80.0% (24-for-30), 23rd

25-F-Josh Shalla (6 goals, 5 assists, 11 points in 8 games)8-F-Nick Sorkin (4 goals, 4 assists, 8 points in 8 games)17-F-Jordan Kwas (3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points in 8 games)11-F-Cody Wydo (1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points in 8 games)23-F-Garrett Meurs (3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points in 8 games)26-D-Kevin Schulze (1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points in 8 games)31-G-Doug Carr (3-3-1 record, 2.81 GAA, .909 Sv% in 7 games)

READING ROYALS(6-3-0-1, 13 PTS, 2nd North, 3rd East)36 GF, 34 GAPP: 22.5% (9-for-40), 7thPK: 72.1% (31-for-43), 27th

3-F-Chris McCarthy (5 goals, 7 assists, 12 points in 10 games)12-F-Steven Swavely (4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points in 10 games)13-F-Olivier Labelle (5 goals, 4 assists, 9 points in 10 games)9-F-Ryan Penny (3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points in 10 games)23-F-Michael Pelech (2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points in 10 games)48-D-Florian Iberer (2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points in 10 games)31-G-Mark Dekanich (3-2-1 record, 3.04 GAA, .908 Sv% in 6 games)

Head to HeadSeason Series: Royals 1, Nailers 0Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Royals 1, Nailers 0All-Time Series: Royals 85, Nailers 70All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena: Royals 41, Nailers 39

Lock Down ModeThe Wheeling Nailers completed a stretch of three games in three days on Sunday afternoon, when they played host to the Kalamazoo Wings, who had an off day on Saturday. Wheeling took a defensive approach in the contest, and followed the game plan to a tee. The Nailers held the Wings to 24 shots on goal, including just two in the second period. The first sign of offense came during the middle frame, when Nick Sorkin slammed in a Cody Wydo cross-crease pass on the power play. Andrew Ammon and Sorkin tacked on empty netters in the closing minutes, giving the tilt a 3-0 final score. JP Anderson made his season debut in the Wheeling net, and was perfect on 24 shots for his second career shutout. The Nailers have won back-to-back games for the second time this season.

On the Other Side of the SpectrumThe Reading Royals were involved in a completely different game, when they last took the ice on Wednesday night against the Cincinnati Cyclones at US Bank Arena. Reading found itself in a huge hole, as the Cyclones busted out to a 4-0 lead by the 7:25 mark of the second period. However, the Royals showed some resiliency, as they came back to score four of the next five goals, trimming their deficit to one at 5-4. Chris McCarthy (2), Nick Luukko, and Florian Iberer were responsible for lighting the lamp, following Reading's goaltending change, as Mark Dekanich took over for Martin Ouellette, who was beaten four times on 17 shots. Cincinnati regained its footing in the third period, adding two more goals to preserve the 7-4 triumph. Dekanich was 13-of-15 in the relief effort, and the final strike was an empty netter.

He Had the Winning HandWhen a clutch goal was needed for the Nailers last weekend, Nick Sorkin rose to the occasion. On Saturday night in Toledo, Sorkin snapped a 2-2 deadlock with 41 seconds left in the second period, putting Wheeling ahead, 3-2. On Sunday afternoon, Nick was called on again in the middle frame, this time to break a scoreless tie, as he converted on the man advantage for a 1-0 Nailers lead. Three of Sorkin's four tallies this season have given Wheeling the lead, while his fourth marker was the second empty net insurance goal on Sunday. Big goals are nothing new for Nick, as three of his 11 tallies with Hamilton in 2014-15 were game winners. On the other end of the ice, Doug Carr got his first game off, after making seven consecutive starts. He and JP Anderson both secured a victory between the pipes, lifting the Nailers over the .500 mark for the first time in 2016-17.

The Trip Ends, but the Journey ContinuesPlane and bus miles have been adding up at an incredible rate for the Royals, who will finally finish off their eight-game road trip on Friday night at WesBanco Arena. The trip started in Boise, Idaho for three games in four days against the Idaho Steelheads, as Reading posted a 1-1-1 mark. The Royals then traveled to Loveland, Colorado for a quick one-game stop against the Colorado Eagles - a 4-3 win for the visitors. Next, it was on to Rapid City, South Dakota, where Reading swept two games from the Rapid City Rush. On Wednesday, the Royals fell 7-4 to the Cincinnati Cyclones, bringing their record to 4-2-1 in the first seven contests. While the road trip may be over after Friday, the schedule won't lighten up, as Reading returns home for games on Saturday and Sunday against Manchester and Atlanta, before traveling to New Hampshire for a morning game against the Monarchs on Wednesday.

A Second Straight Best-of-SevenFriday night marks the second of seven head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Royals this season, as well as the second of four battles at WesBanco Arena. After being eliminated from the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs in Wheeling last spring, Reading returned to town on October 20th, and skated away with a 4-3 victory. The Royals earned their victory in similar fashion to the way the Nailers won game seven of the playoff series, rallying from a 2-0 deficit. Seven different players found the back of the net, with Matt Wilkins' first professional goal serving as the game winner. Strangely enough, the 2016-17 season series will take similar shape to a playoff set, following a 2-3-2 format. After Friday night, the teams will do battle in Reading three consecutive times, before returning to Wheeling for the final two. With the Nailers and Royals in the same division, a playoff series in the spring isn't a long shot to predict. The first trip to Pennsylvania takes place on November 30th, while the next game in the Friendly City will have to wait until February 4th. This is game number 156 all-time between the two rivals, which is now the second most for Wheeling against a single opponent.