
Royals Shutout by Gauthier, Nailers in Game One of North Division Semifinal Kelly Cup Playoffs, 4-0
Published on April 24, 2026 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release
Reading, PA - The Reading Royals (0-1-0-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, fell to the Wheeling Nailers (1-0-0-0), 4-0, in Game One of the North Division Semifinal 2026 Kelly Cup Playoffs at WesBanco Arena on Friday, April 24th.
Goaltender Yaniv Perets (0-1-0-0) suffered the loss in goal with 23 saves on 26 shots faced while Nailers' netminder Taylor Gauthier (1-0-0-0) earned his first Kelly Cup Playoff career win and shutout with 20 saves.
Zach Urdahl (1 & 2) scored his first two professional playoff career goals in the opening minutes of the second period at 0:23 and 4:14 on a Wheeling power play and Wheeling penalty kill, respectively for a 2-0 Nailers lead.
Wheeling extended their lead in the third period with goals from Max Graham (1) and Matthew Quercia (1) at 9:14 and 15:49 to seal the Wheeling Game One victory and Gauthier's second career shutout against the Royals.
The shutout was the 10th time Reading has been blanked in the postseason and the first since Game One of the 2023 North Division Final against the Newfoundland Growlers.
Kelly Cup Playoff Schedule
North Division Semifinals: #1 Wheeling (46-20-3-3, 98 points) vs. #4 Reading Royals (36-26-8-2, 82 points)
GAME 1 - 4-0 Wheeling (WHL 1-0)
GAME 2 - AWAY (Saturday, April 25 at 7:10 p.m. @ WesBanco Arena)
GAME 3 - HOME - (Wednesday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m. @ Santander Arena) - CLICK FOR TICKETS (Use code "BCCCA" at checkout for Wednesday Buy One, Get One ticket deal)
GAME 4 - HOME - (Friday, May 1 at 7:00 p.m. @ Santander Arena) - CLICK FOR TICKETS
GAME 5* - HOME* - (Saturday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m. @ Santander Arena) - CLICK FOR TICKETS
GAME 6* - AWAY (Monday, May 4 at 7:10 p.m. @ WesBanco Arena)
GAME 7* - AWAY (Wednesday, May 6 at 7:10 p.m. @ WesBanco Arena)
*If necessary
ECHL Stories from April 24, 2026
- Americans Take 2-0 Series Lead - Allen Americans
- Kansas City Opens Kelly Cup Playoffs with 4-1 Win - Kansas City Mavericks
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- Strong Second Period Lifts Kansas City to 4-1 Win in Game 1 against Tahoe - Tahoe Knight Monsters
- South Carolina Grinds out 3-2 Game One Win over Atlanta - South Carolina Stingrays
- Komets Take Game One - Fort Wayne Komets
- Nailers Open Series with 4-0 Shutout Win - Wheeling Nailers
- Royals Shutout by Gauthier, Nailers in Game One of North Division Semifinal Kelly Cup Playoffs, 4-0 - Reading Royals
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- Fuel Fall 3-0 to Komets in First Postseason Meeting - Indy Fuel
- Gladiators Fall 3-2 to Stingrays in Gritty Game 1 - Atlanta Gladiators
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- ECHL Transactions - April 24 - ECHL
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- Jalen Luypen Loaned to South Carolina - South Carolina Stingrays
- KC Mavericks Playoff Preview Storylines - Kansas City Mavericks
- Americans Take Early Series Advantage with a 5-1 Win in Game 1 - Allen Americans
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Other Recent Reading Royals Stories
- Royals' Season Ends to Nailers in Double Overtime Game Five in North Division Semifinal Kelly Cup Playoffs Series, 1-0
- Kurth, Royals Force Game Five with Overtime Comeback Win in North Division Semifinal Kelly Cup Playoffs Series Game Four, 3-2
- Royals Suffer Game Three Shutout Loss at Home, Trail North Division Semifinal Kelly Cup Playoffs Series, 3-0
- Butcher Scores, Royals Fall in Game Two of North Division Semifinal Kelly Cup Playoffs, 5-1
- Royals Shutout by Gauthier, Nailers in Game One of North Division Semifinal Kelly Cup Playoffs, 4-0


