Kelly Cup Playoffs: Wheeling Begins Scrappy Series Against Reading Royals Perfect 2-0

While the Pittsburgh Penguins are in the midst of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the NHL level, both of the team's affiliates are beginning their own post-season runs. And for the Penguins' ECHL affiliate, things have gotten off to a great start. On Friday, the Wheeling Nailers began their first-round semifinal series in the Kelly Cup Playoffs at home against the Reading Royals - ECHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers , Pittsburgh's first-round opponent - and they won Games 1 and 2 on back-to- back days to go ahead in the series, 2-0.

They won by a score of 4-0 on Friday - with Taylor Gauthier earning the shutout - and a score of 5-1 on Saturday. According to THN - ECHL editor Samantha Wismer , Game 1 was a very physical affair, with several misconducts handed out at the end of the game. The scoring didn't begin until the second period, when forward Zach Urdahl took a pass from defenseman Emil Pieniniemi and put it home to give the Nailers a 1-0 lead - with Gauthier registering the secondary assist.

Later in the period, Urdahl struck shorthanded as well, putting his team up, 2-0. Forward Max Graham added a tally in the third period, and captain Matthew Quercia tacked on the empty-netter to give Wheeling the 4-0 win before the extracurriculars at the end, which involved six misconduct penalties split between the two teams. Gauthier stopped all 20 Reading shots he faced, and Quercia finished with two points.

Wheeling Dominates Late, Skates Past Reading in Physical Game 1 Victory A shorthanded breakaway ignited the offense, followed by crucial third-period goals and late-game fireworks, as Wheeling secured a hard-fought Game 1 victory. As for Game 2, Reading dominated early on, as they outshot Wheeling 14-5 in the first period. But the Nailers came away with the only goal in the first, as Quercia scored early in the opening frame to give Wheeling the 1-0 lead.