Nailers at Royals Game Day Snap Shot

WHEELING NAILERS(10-5-2-0, 22 PTS, 2nd North, T-3rd East)68 GF, 60 GAPP: 26.7% (23-for-86), 1stPK: 76.2% (64-for-84), 25th

11-F-Cody Wydo (8 goals, 14 assists, 22 points in 16 games)24-F-Reid Gardiner (11 goals, 10 assists, 21 points in 17 games)23-F-Garrett Meurs (11 goals, 9 assists, 20 points in 16 games)8-F-Nick Sorkin (3 goals, 15 assists, 18 points in 17 games)16-F-Derek Army (6 goals, 11 assists, 17 points in 17 games)25-D-Jeff Taylor (2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points in 9 games)31-G-Sean Maguire (7-3-0 record, 3.50 GAA, .904 Sv% in 11 games)

READING ROYALS(10-5-1-0, 21 PTS, 3rd North, 6th East)55 GF, 41 GAPP: 14.5% (10-for-69), 21stPK: 83.6% (46-for-55), 12th

27-F-Max Naclerio (7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points in 16 games)90-F-Matt Willows (6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points in 16 games)8-D-Nolan Zajac (4 goals, 9 assists, 13 points in 16 games)9-F-Ryan Penny (6 goals, 5 assists, 11 points in 16 games)14-F-Adam Schmidt (3 goals, 7 assists, 10 points in 14 games)16-F-Matt Wilkins (3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points in 13 games)1-G-John Muse (5-2-1 record, 2.13 GAA, .933 Sv% in 8 games)

Head to HeadSeason Series: Royals 1, Nailers 0Season Series at Santander Arena: Royals 1, Nailers 0All-Time Series: Royals 90, Nailers 72All-Time Series at Santander Arena: Royals 50, Nailers 32

Doing the Most GoodThe Wheeling Nailers suffered a 4-3 loss at WesBanco Arena against the Worcester Railers on Saturday night, but the game featured a big positive, as the annual Teddy Bear Toss took place. With 6:08 to go in the first period, Garrett Meurs drove in a one-timer from the left circle, as stuffed animals rained down onto the ice. That was the only goal of the opening stanza in what turned out to be a seesaw contest. After allowing back-to-back markers to Jeff Kubiak and Nick Saracino, the Nailers pulled even with 32 seconds remaining in the second period, when Hunter Fejes batted the puck out of the air on the right side of the crease. Wheeling took the lead in the early stages of the third period on Dan Milan's tally, but the Railers prevailed with two goals in 2:04, winning 4-3. Eamon McAdam stopped 34 shots in the win for Worcester, while Adam Morrison came up with 20 saves in his debut for the Nailers.

Not Afraid of ThunderThe Reading Royals have had their way with the Adirondack Thunder this season, collecting five straight wins against their North Division rivals, including three this week. Reading topped Adirondack 5-2 on Tuesday and 2-0 on Friday at home, before snagging a 3-2 victory in Glens Falls on Saturday. In Saturday's win, the Royals built a 2-0 lead on goals by Adam Schmidt and Ryan Penny, before Matt Willows scored what turned out to be the winning goal with 4:45 left in the third period. Mark Dekanich made 39 saves for his first win of the week. Willows, Nolan Zajac, and Mark Naclerio each recorded four points in the three contests to pace Reading offensively. Sunday will end a seven-game run for the Royals against North Division opponents, which has resulted in a 4-2-0 mark thus far.

Let's Go End Their StreakThe home defeat on Saturday was just the first in regulation for the Nailers, who opened the 2017-18 campaign with a 5-0-1 record at WesBanco Arena. The hot play on the ice has been matched in the stands, as the team is averaging over 3,000 fans per game through the end of November for the first time since the 2006-07 season. On Sunday, Wheeling will try to spoil some early success for the Royals, who have won each of their first seven home games this year. After three straight overtime wins to open up the docket, Reading has won its last four home tilts in regulation. Toledo (6-0-0) and South Carolina (5-0-2) are the only other remaining teams who have yet to suffer a regulation loss at home, while Florida (8-0-1) and Wichita (6-0-1) are unbeaten in regulation on the road. All ECHL teams have at least one home win, while Quad City (0-4-0) is the only club who has yet to win on enemy ice.

We May Not Play so Nice64 penalty minutes were dished out in Saturday's tussle between Wheeling and Worcester, as the two teams have quickly developed a dislike for one another. Jeremy Beirnes and Yanick Turcotte threw down the gloves off of the opening face-off, and Dylan Zink squared off with Kyle McKenzie later in the first period. There was even a heated discussion at the buzzer, which resulted in an altercation between Dan Milan and Ashton Rome. The Railers and Nailers have the top two penalty minute totals in the North Division, with 347 and 307 respectively. However, most teams are well off of the early pace set by the Allen Americans, who lead the ECHL with 485 minutes in the sin bin. On the other side of the equation sit the Royals, whose 174 penalty minutes are the fewest in the North Division and second fewest in the ECHL.

Getting to Know Them QuicklySunday afternoon marks the second of 11 head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Royals this season, as well as the second of six battles at Santander Arena. In case the two teams that have played 162 times in the regular season and have rival affiliates don't have enough reason to feel animosity towards each other, the next three weeks should certainly bring out some emotion. Sunday's game starts a stretch in which Wheeling and Reading will collide six times in 21 days, with four of those games being played in Pennsylvania. The Royals came out on top in the first game of the season series, as Nolan Zajac broke a 1-1 tie at the 1:12 mark of overtime on October 22nd. Colin Stevens and John Muse combined to make 65 saves on 68 shots. Reading will travel to the Friendly City for the first time this season for games on December 1st and 2nd.