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Nailers Cough Up Early Lead, Fall to Royals

Wheeling’s Jordan Kwas (17) and Reading’s Florian Iberer (48) fight for posession of the puck during Thurday’s game. Photo by Joe Lovell

WHEELING — Reading scored four goals in a row and held on down the stretch Thursday night, sending Wheeling to its second straight loss to begin the season, 4-3, at WesBanco Arena.

With the game tied 2-2 midway through the third period, the Royals (2-0-0 — 4) scored twice in a 40-second span to take control. Michael Pelech banged in a rebound on the power play at 10:01 and Matt Wilkins changed the angle on his shot just slightly to beat Nailers (0-1-1 — 1) goaltender Doug Carr through the 5-hole at 10:41 for his first pro goal.

That was enough for Reading goaltender Martin Ouellete, who although he gave up Jordan Kwas’ first of the season a little more than a minute later, earned a victory by stopping 26 of 29.

”We talk about two things every game — penalties and turnvoers,” Nailers coach Jeff Christian said. ”Obviously two power-play goals against.

”But we battled to the end and that was the message. Stick with it. It’s early.”

While true, Thursday already marked the second loss to a divisional opponent, though it didn’t appear early that would be the case.

Wheeling took a 2-0 lead 6:13 into the contest. Following an extended possession, newcomer Garrett Meurs blew a puck past Ouellette from the left circle for a 1-0 lead. Ethan Prow and Kwas assisted.

”We’re built to score goals and work in their end,” Meurs said. ”We’re working hard but right now we’re just not getting pucks in the net.

”Scoring goals is what I like to do.”

Then, with a man advantage, Josh Shalla’s laser from the top of the right circle found its way into the cage for his second of the season. Helpers went to Kevin Schulze and Cody Wydo.

But Reading cashed in before the end of the first on the power play as Olivier Labelle scored in close to beat Carr (25 saves), then tied the score at 6:29 of the second as Chris McCarthy rifled the puck in coming down the right wing.

Prow had two points in his Wheeling debut. Kwas added a goal and an assist. Gage Quinney assisted on Kwas’ goal for his first pro point.

”It’s nice when you get thrown into a team like this,” Prow said. ”There’s a lot of good players here.

”And the coaching staff puts you in a position to succeed and that’s kind of what happened.”

Reading 1 1 2 — 4

Wheeling 2 0 1 — 3

1st Period-1, Wheeling, Meurs 1 (Prow, Kwas), 4:15. 2, Wheeling, Shalla 2 (Schulze, Wydo), 6:13 (PP). 3, Reading, Labelle 3 (Marcou, Iberer), 8:46 (PP). Penalties-Czarnik Rea (holding), 6:05; Stern Whl (roughing), 8:14.

2nd Period-4, Reading, McCarthy 2 (Labelle, Sundher), 6:29. Penalties-Stern Whl (interference), 8:46; Watters Rea (slashing ), 12:11.

3rd Period-5, Reading, Pelech 1 (Lamarche), 10:01 (PP). 6, Reading, Wilkins 1 (Penny, Swavely), 10:41. 7, Wheeling, Kwas 1 (Quinney, Prow), 11:27 (PP). Penalties-Labelle Rea (roughing), 2:26; Pettersson Rea (delay of game), 2:59; Pettersson Rea (double – roughing), 6:58; Army Whl (double – roughing), 6:58; Flemington Whl (hooking), 8:33; Czarnik Rea (tripping), 10:57.

Shots on Goal-Reading 11-7-11-29. Wheeling 9-13-7-29.

Power-Play Opportunities-Reading 2-3; Wheeling 2-5.

Goalies-Reading, Ouellette 1-0-0-0 (29 shots-26 saves). Wheeling, Carr 0-1-1-0 (29 shots-25 saves).

A-1,560

Referee-Stephen Thomson (27); Linesmen-Dylan Peper (77), Ryan Madsen (57).

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