
Simons to miss rest of season and World Cup with knee injury
Xavi Simons suffers knee injury, out for season and World Cup, impacting Tottenham's hopes.
The Wheeling Nailers lead their Kelly Cup Playoff series against the Reading Royals 2-0 after winning both Games 1 and 2. They secured a 4-0 victory in Game 1 and a 5-1 win in Game 2, with Taylor Gauthier earning a shutout in the first match.
Mentioned in this story
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.
The Wheeling Nailers won Game 1 with a score of 4-0 and Game 2 with a score of 5-1.
Zach Urdahl scored the first goal in Game 1, giving the Nailers a 1-0 lead.
Taylor Gauthier earned a shutout in Game 1, stopping all 20 shots faced.
Game 1 featured several misconduct penalties, with six handed out between the two teams at the end of the match.

Xavi Simons suffers knee injury, out for season and World Cup, impacting Tottenham's hopes.
Rotherham United fans voice frustration over Reading FC's poor performance and management under Leam Richardson.

'Martillo' Martínez, el delantero del Alavés, sorprende en Fantasy y acumula 55 puntos.
Liverpool eyes Yan Diomande as Salah prepares to leave Anfield
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall calls for better defense from Everton after scoring vs West Ham.
Spurs win 114-93 as Wembanyama returns from concussion
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
Wheeling Dominates Late, Skates Past Reading in Physical 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.
Things opened up for the Nailers in the second period, however. Ryan McAllister was the first to tack on, and Matty St. Phalle followed suit later on in the middle frame. Reading's Alec Butcher scored the team's lone goal late in the period to cut the Wheeling lead to 3-1, but that was the closest they would come to tying things up.
Blake Bennett tallied one in the third period for the Nailers before a Craig Armstrong empty-net goal to seal the 5-1 victory. Gauthier stopped 32 of 33 Royals' shots, giving him a staggering .981 save percentage through the first two games.
Quercia, Bennett Lead Wheeling to Convincing Playoff Victory
Quercia leads the team in points with five so far, and defenseman Emil Pieniniemi is the leader on the blue line with two assists.
Wheeling next heads to Reading for Games 3 and 4, which will be played on Wednesday and Friday at Santander Arena in Reading, Pa.
Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!