Wings top Nailers
March 19, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Kalamazoo, MI - The Wings scored a pair of goals in the final 6 minutes to pull away from the Wheeling Nailers in a 5-2 final Friday night at Wings Stadium.
Trailing 2-1 entering the 3rd period, Wheeling outshot Kalamazoo 12-3 in the final frame but couldn't solve Wings netminder Ryan Nie.
T.J. Fox (24) and Aaron Clarke (23) scored the Nailers' goals on the evening.
It was the 3rd game in a row between the two teams and tempers flared on various occasions throughout the night. The rematch and 4th game in a row between Wheeling and Kalamazoo takes place Saturday night at WesBanco Arena at 7:35.
Kalamazoo went 3-for-8 on the power play while Wheeling was 2-for-7. The Nailers outshot the K-Wings 34-30 in the game.
Wheeling's record was evened to 30-30-6 with the result and they sit 3 points back of the Reading Royals for the 8th and last playoff spot in the American Conference but still with 6 games remaining for the Nailers to make up the ground.
It was an exciting but scoreless back and forth first period that featured great saves on both ends by Adam Berkhoel and Ryan Nie.
Early in the 2nd period, the Wings Sam Ftorek blasted a shot from the right-wing half-wall that clanged off the underside of the crossbar and in for his 18th of the year staking Kalamazoo to the 1-0 lead.
Wheeling killed off a 5-on-3 Wings power play and as they were just beginning a power play of their own Aaron Clarke offered a perfect feed to T.J. Fox for a one-time slapper in the right-wing circle to tie the score 1-1 midway through the 2nd.
A few minutes later it would be Andrew Fournier corralling a hopping puck on the right-wing side of the crease and stuffing it in after a Dean Strong wrap-around attempt. Kalamazoo led 2-1 after two period.
The K-Wings would begin the 3rd period on a power play and Mathieu Curadeau would streak in around the Nailers D and blast a shot across Berkhoel just one minute into the 3rd to stretch the Wings lead to 3-1.
Wheeling got it back on a power play of their own at 6:39 into the 3rd period with Aaron Clarke firing it home from the slot on a nice give from T.J. Fox.
The Nailers had several fine chances throughout the 3rd but weren't able to push home any more past Nie. Kalamazoo's Brian McGuirk slammed it in from the right-wing side of the crease after Ftorek fed it to him from behind the goal. The tally with 6:03 to go was only the 2nd shot on goal of the period for the Wings and extended their lead to 4-2.
Patrick Asselin added an empty-netter with 1:08 remaining to complete the scoring.
Kyle Bushee dropped the gloves with Dean Strong late in the first period and then early in the 2nd period it was Wheeling's Colin Power squaring off with Ryan McGinnis as the two teams appeared to have developed a good healthy rivalry with each other during their 3rd encounter in a row.
Wheeling is 3-3-1 against Kalamazoo this season. The Nailers and Wings meet for the 8th time this year on Saturday night in Wheeling. The 9th and last meeting of the season for Wheeling and Kalamazoo will be next Friday night also in Wheeling.
The Nailers return home Saturday night and Sunday afternoon entertaining Kalamazoo and Toledo back to back. The Nailers will wear their Baby Blue jerseys in Saturday night's game. Sunday at 3:05 is Pups and Pucks Day in which Nailers fans can bring their dog to the game. Every Sunday also features an open-skate with the Nailers players after the game.
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