photo by: Joe Lovell

Photo by Joe Lovell The Wheeling Nailers' Brayden Edwards, pictured during game one of the Nailers' series against Reading, reaches for the puck along the wall.

WHEELING – Home sweet home.

Wheeling is halfway to the Kelly Cup North Division championship series following another dominating performance Saturday night against Reading.

The top-seeded Nailers posted a convincing, 5-1, triumph over the No. 4 Royals before a crowd of 2,684 inside WesBanco Arena. With the victory, Wheeling now leads the North Division semifinal series 2-0 as the best-of-7 series shifts to Reading for Games 3, 4 and, if needed, 5.

For the second night in a row, Wheeling goaltender Taylor Gauthier was outstanding between the pipes as he turned away 32 of 33 shots he faced.

“I think he was good. I also think he was maybe less spectacular than the shot-clock shows because we gave him some easier work,” Wheeling first-year head coach Ryan Papaioannou said. “But when we do have breakdowns, he’s there for the big saves. That gives our guys a lot of confidence playing in front of him.”

Five different Nailers found the back of the net, which has been their style of play all season.

“I think scoring-by-committee has been a big thing for us,” Papaioannou added. “Some of the ways we scored tonight … (Ryan) McAllister scoring in front of the net may not be his typical goal, but it’s nice to see guys do things that they don’t typically do. He was also physical tonight, which is also not his style, but to see guys do things (in the playoffs) that they don’t usually do in the regular season, that’s when you know you have a good team.

“For us to be successful, everyone has to play tough at both ends of the ice.”

Wheeling got on the scoreboard first when team captain Matthew Quercia put a rebound past Reading goalie Keith Petruzzelli at 4:21 of the first period. Blake Bennett’s initial shot was denied, but backhanded the puck around Petruzzelli’s pad. Logan Pietila also notched an assist.

Moments later, Wheeling’s Max Graham and Reading’s Liam Devlin dropped the gloves to the delight of the boisterous crowd.

Wheeling made it 2-0 just over five minutes into the second period as Ryan McAllister also scored on a back-handed rebound. Connor Lockhart’s one-timer from the left circle was turned aside by Petruzzelli, but McAllister was in the right spot at the right time, sending the rubber disc between the goalie’s legs to light the lamp. Emil Pieniniemi had a helper.

Matty De St. Phalle made it 3-0 at the 12:17 mark, also off a rebound. Brayden Edwards’ shot caromed off of Petruzzelli, but De St. Phalle buried the rebound. Craig Armstrong also picked up an assist.

Reading finally solved Gauthier when Alec Butcher scored on the power play. His shot from the right circle somehow found its way through Gauthier.

Bennett and Armstrong added third-period goals, with Quercia picking up an assist on each..

Newcomer Nolan Renwick, playing just his second game for the Nailers, skated down the right wing and circled behind the Reading net before slipping the puck to Bennett on the doorstep for an easy tap-in. Armstrong’s goal was an empty-netter.

“Tonight was a very important win for us,” Quercia said. “I’m sure they (Reading) came here to get a split and for us to take that away and take the momentum with us on the road is important for us.

“I think guys are stepping up and they are getting rewarded for playing the right way.”

Papaioannou knows the Royals will be pumped up to be playing at home.

“They’ll be ready,” he said. “But I think we’ll be fine. But to go there for three in a row is definitely going to be a challenge. I’m sure there’s another level that Reading will bring at home.”

As far as the ‘goon’ style of play that Reading has tried to initiate, the Nailers have been very tenacious.

“I think we’re doing a great job of engaging but not getting baited into doing something stupid. The guys are fighting back in the right way, and it is working for us,” Quercia said.

Petruzzelli only faced 18 shots. He started in place of Yaniv Perets who suffered the loss in Game 1 on Friday.

LOOSE PUCKS

– Gauthier was voted the game’s No. 1 star, with Quercia No. 2 and Bennett No. 3.

– Only 26 minutes in penalties was assessed after nearly 100 on Friday. Wheeling was charged with 15 of the 26.

– The series resumes on Wednesday at Santander Arena in Reading when the puck drops at 7 p.m.