Chiefs Come on Strong to Down Nailers, 5-3
February 29, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
WHEELING, WV - The Wheeling Nailers jumped out to an early two goal lead only to see it disappear just as quickly in a 5-3 loss to the Johnstown Chiefs Friday night at WesBanco Arena. Johnstown outshot the Nailers 44-23, including 20-6 in the second period where they scored three of their five goals.
Vadim Slivchenko used a breakaway to put the Nailers on the board at 12:27 of the opening period. Gino Pisellini chipped the puck off the boards and Slivchenko picked it up at the red line, shook a defender and went in unguarded on Ryan Nie. He backhanded home his sixth goal of the season and his fourth goal in the last five games.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins reassigned Kyle Rank to Wheeling just before the game and he made an immediate impact scoring at 18:31 of the first period to double the Nailers lead.
The second period belonged to the Chiefs as they scored three unanswered goals to take a 3-2 lead into the third. First Tyler Hirsch used a screen from Mike Sgroi to get his team on the board at 6:23. Brandon Straub then slid home a rebound after Curtis Darling made the initial three saves on Sgroi and Jean Desrochers who earned assists on the play. The goal tied the game at 14:59.
A power-play goal for the Chiefs gave them their first lead of the game at 17:24. With Joe Guenther in the box serving a Curtis Darling minor for throwing the stick, Kenny Roche dug a puck out from underneath Darling and put it home for his third of the season.
The Chiefs used a 5-on-3 advantage to expand their lead to 4-2 n the opening minute of the third. Alexandre Imbeault notched his 15th of the year, scoring on an open net after a partially blocked shot landed on his stick at the side of the goal.
Chris Snavely scored a power-play goal for Wheeling at 5:31 to bring the Nailers within one but that was a close as they would get. Joe Guenther and Kevin Croxton earned assists on the play.
Hirsch scored his second of the night at 16:20 to reach the 5-3 final score.
Wheeling continues their homestand on Saturday when they begin a two-game series with the Trenton Devils. The game will start at 8pm on Beach Party Night at WesBanco Arena. Fans that wear beach to the game will receive $2 off their tickets and will be entered to win a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC. Call 304-234-GOAL for ticketing information or visit www.wheelingnailers.com.
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