Wheeling Dominates Late, Skates Past Reading in Physical Game 1 Victory

The opening period featured a tight, defensive battle with neither side able to break through on the scoreboard, and feisty affairs were in the air. Both teams generated quality looks, with Wheeling holding a slight edge in shots, 9–7, but goaltending and structure kept the game scoreless.

The lone infraction of the period came when Reading’s Brandon Saigeon was assessed a two-minute minor for holding, giving Wheeling an early power-play opportunity. Despite the man advantage, Reading’s penalty kill stood firm, helping maintain the deadlock heading into the first intermission. 

The second period brought the game to life, highlighted by a key special teams moment and a series of penalties that added to the intensity. Wheeling’s Nolan Renwick was assessed a two-minute minor for goaltender interference, and it was during that penalty kill that Zach Urdahl delivered the breakthrough. Urdahl capitalized on a shorthanded breakaway, finishing the game’s first goal with assists credited to Emil Pieniniemi and Taylor Gauthier.

The physicality picked up as the period wore on, with Reading’s Artyom Kulakov sent off for roughing at 10:59, followed by a matching roughing minor to Wheeling’s Brent Johnson at 15:00. Carson Golder was later penalized for interference at 16:22, continuing the parade to the box. At 20:00, Reading's Kyler Walker was hit with a roughing minor, and Wheeling's Renwick was hit with a cross-checking minor. Wheeling controlled much of the period, outshooting Reading 13–7, but Urdahl’s shorthanded strike stood as the difference heading into the third.

The third period saw Wheeling put the game firmly out of reach with a pair of key goals before tensions boiled over late. At 9:14, Max Graham extended the lead, scoring his first goal of the series—and the first postseason goal of his professional career—off a setup from Matthew Quercia. Wheeling stayed in control from there, limiting any push from Reading and dictating the pace. With the net empty, Captain Matthew Quercia sealed the result at 15:49, finishing it off to make it 4–0 with assists from Logan Pietila and Brent Johnson.

The closing minutes turned physical, as multiple misconduct penalties were handed out at 18:07 for continuing an altercation—Reading’s Liam Devlin, Ben Meehan, and Austin Saint, along with Wheeling’s Daniel Laatsch, Nolan Renwick, and Tristan Thompson. Max Graham was also assessed a charging penalty on the sequence, capping off a heated finish to an otherwise controlled period for Wheeling.