ECHL Reading Royals

Royals Stunt Nailers, 2-1

Published on December 15, 2017 under ECHL (ECHL)
Reading Royals News Release


Reading, PA - The Reading Royals scored two goals in the first and tied for tops in the North Division with a 2-1 win over the Wheeling Nailers at Santander Arena. Reading is 12-7-2-0, tied with Wheeling and Manchester at 26 points.

Nolan Zajac scored three minutes into the first, snapping a five-game scoring drought. Leading scorer Alex Krushelnyski (10 goals) tallied in the final three of the frame to jump Reading ahead by two. The Royals have scored the first goal in 16 games this season, the most of any ECHL team. Reading is 9-0-0-0 when leading after one.

Hunter Fejes recorded the Nailers' lone tally in the second.

Mark Dekanich (win) denied 26 shots and stopped all eight in the third. Adam Morrison lost with 29 denials.

Reading is on the road this Friday in Adirondack and Saturday at Manchester.

Box Score:

Zajac potted the opening goal in front of the net at 4-on-4 just 2:16 into the game. Ryan Penny swooped to the bottom of the left circle and tossed it to net front. Zajac darted five feet from the cage and slammed it home. He has five goals this season.

Krushelnyski struck next on the power play with 3:33 left in the first. Chris McCarthy shot it off the right post and a generous rebound found Krushelnyski all alone. He has points in three straight games (3g, 2a) since returning on loan from Lehigh Valley. Reading was 1-for-6 on the power play and denied all three Nailers chances.

The Royals outshot Wheeling, 15-5, in the second but yielded the frame's only goal. Fejes sniped a shot from the deep slot at 4:16 of the frame.

Reading hosts the Nailers again on Sat., Dec. 16 with the annual Teddy Bear Toss game and Ugly Sweater Jerseys. Plus, the first 2,000 fans receive a Royals Christmas ornament, presented by Met-Ed.

Check out the Reading Royals Statistics

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ECHL Stories from December 15, 2017


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