READING, PA – Chris McCarthy scored a go-ahead goal halfway through the third and Adam Schmidt added insurance 1:06 later, providing the Reading Royals a two-goal edge in a 5-2, come-from-behind victory over the Wheeling Nailers Sunday at Santander Arena. Reading has three comeback victories this campaign (3-1-1-2, 9 pts.).
Josh MacDonald assisted on Reading’s first two goals of the third and finished with three points (1 goal). He tied the game at 1-1 on a penalty shot in the second.
John Muse (loss, 27 saves) allowed three in the third frame. Michael Huntebrinker banged home an empty-net goal in the final two minutes.
Branden Komm blocked 32 shots (2 goals against) in victory. The Royals embark on a two-game road trip next weekend at Maine and Manchester before returning home November 7th to play Maine.
Kevin Spinozzi scored on Wheeling’s first shot at 4:01 of the first, with assists to Cedric Lacroix and Alex Rauter. The second-year blue liner fired it from the left-wing point off a face-off victory at the left circle.
Reading tied the game on MacDonald’s penalty shot with 1:44 left in the second. Off a bounce at the penalty box boards, MacDonald gathered it at even strength and snuck behind Fick. The defenseman hauled down MacDonald. In Reading’s first penalty-shot opportunity this season, MacDonald swung to the right slot and slid it through Muse’s five-hole for his third of the season.
Alex Krushelnyski scored for the second straight game on a rebound at the left circle at 1:36 of the third. Charlie Vasaturo (2 assists) initially had a right-point shot fended off by Muse. The loose puck scattered left to Krushelnyski, who has scored nine points this season. MacDonald garnered the secondary helper.
Wheeling tied the game at 2-2 two minutes later on Nick Saracino’s right-circle, top-shelf snipe.
Vasaturo and MacDonald factored in for the game-winning strike at 9:59 of the third. MacDonald helped it to Vasaturo and the blue liner banged it from the right point. McCarthy freed his stick at the right doorstep and deflected it by Muse to give Reading a 3-2 edge. One minute later, Schmidt bagged his second of the season, collecting a loose puck at the slot and sliding it through Muse’s legs. Steven Swavely and Jack Riley assisted.
Reading went 0-for-4 on the man up and killed off Wheeling’s three opportunities.
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