ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Chewy Lifts Nailers with Last Minute Goal

February 22, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, WV - Justin Chwedoruk's goal with only 51 seconds left in the third period was the difference in a 4-3 Wheeling Nailers win over the visiting Elmira Jackals at WesBanco Arena Friday night. Wheeling used two shorthanded goals to start their six-game home stand with their first win over the Jackals this season.

Dave Brown was assigned from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before the game and started in goal for the Nailers for the first time since December 2. He stopped 29 shots to earn his sixth ECHL win of the season.

Elmira scored the first goal of the game 4:56 into the first period. Benoit Doucet, Chaz Johnson, and Matt Gens charged towards the goal on a three-on-two with Doucet putting the shot underneath the glove of Brown for his 18th goal of the season.

The Nailers tied the score up at 1-1 with a Sean Collins shorthanded goal at 9:49 of the first. The captain blocked a point-shot and raced in on a breakaway against goaltender Joel Martin. A head-fake dropped Martin to the ice and Collins went upstairs with the shot for his 11th of the year.

The Jackals answered quickly with a power play goal, on the same Nailers penalty kill, to take back their one goal lead back 33 seconds later. Doucet was credited with his second goal of the night sliding one past Brown. Gens and Pierre-Luc Faubert earned the assists on the play.

The score was tied again at two when Joe Guenther beat his former teammate. His shot appeared to be saved by Martin, but dropped just behind him and crossed the goal line. Collins was credited his 36th assist of the year at 13:01 of the second.

Wheeling grabbed their first lead of the game just 1:48 after tying it up. At 14:49, with the Nailers killing a penalty, B.J. Radovich hurried the puck up the ice for a two-on-one with Vadim Slivchenko. Radovich held the puck long enough to freeze Martin before sending it across to Slivchenko for his second goal in as many nights.

The back-and-forth game continued as Elmira tied the game at 3-3 just 2:15 into the third. It was their second power-play goal and finished the night 2-for-6 overall. Faubert slammed home a rebound for his 22nd goal of the season. Gens and Doucet assisted on the play giving them each three points on the night.

Chwedoruk game-winner came by accident. Trying to center a pass from the right faceoff circle, it deflected off a Jackals leg in the slot and ricocheted past Martin for the goal. Seamus Young assisted on Chwedoruk's third goal in the past three games.

The Nailers are back on the ice at WesBanco Arena Saturday as they face off against the Reading Royals at 7:35pm. The first 2,500 fans into the game will receive the Nailers' captain Sean Collins' bobblehead and following the game the teams' black jerseys will be auctioned live. To reserve your tickets call 304-234-GOAL or visit www.wheelingnailers.com.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 22, 2008


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