READING, PA – Thomas Ebbing tallied a career-best three points (2 goals), the Reading Royals ripped 44 shots on cage and the team defeated the Wheeling Nailers, 5-2, Friday at Santander Arena. The Royals scored the game’s first three goals, Wheeling tallied the next two and Reading added a pair of empty-net goals.
Ebbing scored the Royals’ second goal on the power play late in the first period, recorded an assist and added his second goal on an empty-net strike to cement the 5-2 victory. Kirill Ustimenko stopped 23 shots for his 13th victory this season.
Forward Matthew Strome scored in the first period with a slap shot high in the left circle off a Matthew Guadreau feed seven minutes in.
Early in the second frame, Brayden Low stepped onto the ice and received a pass from Ebbing above the left circle before flinging the puck past Emil Larmi (loss, 3 goals against, 39 saves) to make it 3-0.
Wheeling forward Graham Knott slapped a power-play shot past Ustimenko early in the second period before Alec Butcher made it 3-2 while short-handed five minutes later.
Steven Swavely (1 goal, 1 assist) scored the first of two empty-net goals to give Reading insurance late in the third period.
Lots of Shots: The Royals fired the puck early and often, recording 19 shots by the end of the opening 20 minutes. Reading took 34 shots in the first two periods, followed by ten in the final frame.
Friday’s 44 shots were the second-most in a game this season. This is the ninth time all season the Royals have attempted at least 40 shots.
Jeremy Beaudry and Corey Mackin led skaters with six shots each while Strome recorded five, including the opening goal. Fourteen skaters had at least a shot on goal.
Hodgson returns: Forward Hayden Hodgson (1 assist) returned to the lineup Friday after missing 24 games with injury. Prior to the injury, Hodgson had recorded seven points (5 goals, 2 assists) and 11 penalty minutes in 11 games.
On his assist, Hodgson weaved into the zone, drew all four Wheeling defenders and found an open Ebbing in the shot for his first point since November 13th at Worcester.
The Royals will travel to Worcester to play the Railers on Sunday, January 12th at 3:05 p.m. Reading then has a five-day break to prepare for a five-game homestand against Adirondack, Worcester, and Newfoundland.
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