Game 24 Preview: Wheeling at Reading

Royals start huge home weekend vs. Nailers

Reading, PA – The Reading Royals (13-8-2-0, 28 pts., 3rd North) have three games at Santander Arena this weekend and start the stretch Friday at 7:00 p.m. against the Wheeling Nailers (14-9-2-0, 30 pts., 2nd North). Reading is 8-1-0-0 at home.

The Royals have seven of their next eight games at home. Reading has two games against the Nailers this weekend.

Join the Royals Sat., Dec. 16 for the annual Teddy Bear Toss game and Ugly Sweater Jerseys against Wheeling at 7:00 p.m. Plus, the first 2,000 fans receive a Royals Christmas ornament, presented by Met-Ed.

Reading is 3-1-1-0 against the Nailers this season. The Royals lost their only home game of the season against the Nailers on Nov. 26.

Sunday features $5 Green Zone tickets, magnet photo frame giveaway and dollar dogs, presented by Tower Health.

Such a strong home startThe Royals are 8-1-0-0 at home and a win Friday ties team record for the best ten-game home start ever. In 2005-06, Reading began 9-1-0-0 at home. Reading won its first seven home games this season, tying that Royals squad for the most consecutive wins to begin a season at Santander Arena.

At home this season, the Royals have outscored opponents, 35-21. In 2005-06, the team dropped five straight home games after the 9-1-0-0 beginning. That squad won 22 games at home.

Emotional gamesThe Royals and Nailers have seemingly had ramping drama and intensity in their last three matchups. On Dec. 1, the Royals overcame a third-period deficit for a 4-3 win. The teams had three suspensions result from infractions the next night in Wheeling, a 5-4 OT loss. That game, the Royals had a season-high 28 PIMs and the teams combined for 38 PIMs in the second frame.

On Dec. 6, Reading defeated Wheeling, 2-1, in its third straight game against the Nailers. Royals Head Coach Kirk MacDonald entered the camera well for words with Wheeling’s Jeff Christian halfway through the third period.

Four of the five matchups have been one-goal games and Reading is 2-1-1-0 in those games.

Keeping track of the roster movesIn the last week, the Royals have made a number of roster moves. Here’s an easy catch up.1) F Steven Swavely, F Alex Krushelnyski: recalled from loan by Lehigh Valley2) D Frank Hora: returned on loan by Lehigh Valley3) F Jack Ceglarski and F Brian Morgan signed and added to active roster.

Scouting WheelingThe Nailers have won consecutive games and last defeated Indy, 3-2, on Tuesday. Troy Josephs scored the go-ahead goal and game-winner at 6:29 of the third. The 2017 Clarkson graduate has four points (2g, 2a) in four games since coming to the Nailers from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL).

Cody Wydo assisted on the most-recent game-winning goal and tops Wheeling with 29 points in 24 games. Reid Gardiner (11g, 24 pts.) and Cam Brown (4g, 23 pts.) rank in the top-five of the league among rookies in points.

Wydo and Garrett Meurs are tied for a team-best seven goals. The last time Meurs faced the Royals (Dec. 2), he tripped Chase Golightly and received a two-game suspension from the ECHL for the infraction.

The Nailers have had four goaltenders play this season. Adam Morrison has received the majority of the recent starts and has a 2.89 goals against average and .905 save percentage in seven games.

Santa Sacks Holiday GiftStuff the stocking with Santa Sacks! Get an autographed Royals puck and come out to three of our biggest games for just $30.- Sat., Jan. 20 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Slapshot bobblehead giveaway, THON Night, Star Wars jerseys)- Fri., Feb. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Pink in the Rink, knit scarf giveaway)- Sat., Mar. 17 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Brampton (Yannick Tifu number retired, Meet WWE Million Dollar Man)- Sat., Mar. 24 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (Kelly Cup Tribute puck giveaway, Autism Awareness jerseys)- Sat., Apr. 7 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Norfolk (FANdemonium, fan appreciation, fan’s choice giveaway)- Call 610-898-PUCK and tickets are available here.

More $5 TicketsThe Royals are pleased to announce $5 tickets in the Green Zone to two more games in December!Sun., Dec. 17 at 4:00 p.m. vs. Adirondack (dollar dogs and player photo) | Thurs., Dec. 28 at 7:00 p.m. vs. Worcester (orange Royals jerseys to pay tribute to the Flyers on aPHILLYation night)- Call 610-898-PUCK (7825) and tickets are available here.

About the RoyalsThe Royals have been owned by serial entrepreneur Jack Gulati since 2014 and are in their 17th ECHL season. Proudly affiliated with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers and AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Reading plays in the Santander Arena, located in downtown Reading, PA at 700 Penn Street. The Royals won the Kelly Cup in 2013, have made the playoffs in eight straight seasons and are four-time division champions.

Reading Royals Mobile AppHead to the App Store and Google Play to download the new Reading Royals app on your smartphone! Stay up-to-date with team news, receive notifications and purchase tickets for your next experience at Santander Arena.

Broadcast CoverageAll Royals game can be heard on Rumba 1340 AM and the iHeartRadio app by searching “Rumba 1340”. The pregame show starts 15 minutes before puck drop. Watch Royals games on ECHL.tv. Reading away games are shown locally on BCTV.