Nailers Dethrone Royals on Penguins Night at WesBanco Arena
Joe Lovell Trending
WHEELING -- The Wheeling Nailers celebrated Pittsburgh Penguins Night at WesBanco Arena with a 4-3 triumph over the Reading Royals.
Jordan Martel scored the eventual game winning goal on the power play at the 3:02 mark of the third period, and was the lone Wheeling player with multiple points. Jaxon Castor made 23 saves to earn his first victory since Nov. 16.
The Nailers had an explosive start to the night, as they scored twice in the first period, while holding a 16-7 advantage in shots. The opening tally came off an offensive zone faceoff win. Gabe Klassen dipped beneath the left circle, then snipee a wrist shot into the top-left corner of the twine. Wheeling added to its advantage 2:05 later. Logan Pietila stole a pass at center ice, drove in on the right side and got just enough on his shot to send it trickling over the goal line.
Reading pushed back a bit in the middle frame, but the margin remained two as both teams lit the lamp once. The Nailers got their goal at the 5:54 mark when Kyle Jackson converted on a breakaway. The Royals got on the scoreboard with 2:25 remaining with a marker from Matt Brown.
The third period began with a Reading strike, as Calisti pinged a shot in off the left post from the right circle. Less than three minutes later, Wheeling got a big goal on its lone power play of the night. Martel sliced through the defense and lifted a shot into the top-right corner of the net. That turned out to be the game winner, as Tyler Gratton tipped in a point shot with 1:36 remaining to make it 4-3.
Castor denied 23 of the 26 shots he faced. Vinnie Purpura took the loss for the Royals, as he made 22 saves on 26 shots.
The Nailers will visit the South Carolina Stingrays on Saturday, then the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Sunday and Feb. 17.