Chupp Leads Nailers to Big Victory in Johnstown
February 12, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
JOHNSTOWN, PA - Matt Schepke scored his first goal against his former club, Sunday night in Johnstown, in the Nailers' 7-5 victory over the Reading Royals. Peter Lenes, Chris Barton, Ben Farrer, Olivier Dame-Malka, Denver Manderson, and Cody Chupp all contributed goals in the win, that earned the Nailers sole possession first place in the division.
Reading's power play unit was the star of the first period. Ryan Schnell took an early unsportsmanlike conduct minor for a snow shower on Reading goaltender Karel St. Laurent. The Nailers killed that penalty, but their penalty kill was no match for the next three offenses. Mickael Bedard scored two power play goals on his former team, the first on a hooking call to Zack Torquato, the second on a delay of game penalty for Peter Merth. Olivier Labelle and Ryan Cruthers picked up assists respectively. Matt Schepke scored his second goal of the weekend - the first against the team that sent him to Wheeling for Bedard - to cut the Royals' lead in half with help from Cody Chupp and Zach Hansen. The Nailers had an opportunity on the power play, but did not convert. Schnell went back to the box for interference, and Labelle beat Killeen with help from Denny Urban, to pad the Royals' lead going into intermission.
A minute and a half into the second period, Peter Lenes pulled the Nailers back within one, when his shot on the breakaway went over St. Laurent's shoulder. Andrew Hotham earned his 26th point of the season on the play. Kenny Ryan put the Royals up 4-2 on a delayed penalty to the Nailers, but Chris Barton struck back to pull the Nailers back to a one-goal deficit. Marc Cantin was awarded an assist on Ryan's goal, while Schepke and Chupp earned the helpers on Barton's tally. A scrum along the near boards resulted in matching minors for Cantin and Merth for tripping and roughing, before the Nailers went to the power play for another tripping call against Cantin. However, the Royals' penalty kill kept the Nailers off the scoreboard. Cantin returned to the box with 36 seconds left in the second period for delay of game, sending the Nailers on the power play to start the third period.
Despite almost a minute and a half of power play time to start the third, the Nailers were once again unable to score with the man advantage. With 16:07 left in the third, Torquato put a shot on goal that beat St. Laurent, but the goal was waved off due to incidental contact. Ben Farrer made up for the call seconds later, as his eighth goal of the season tied the game at four. Olivier Dame-Malka put the Nailers up 5-4, but the Nailers weren't done yet. Seconds after Reading pulled St. Laurent in favor of Jussi Rynnas, Denver Manderson scored the Nailers' third goal in the span of a minute and a half to give the Nailers a 6-4 lead. The teams exchanged penalties, but Chupp scored his 13th goal of the season on an unassisted breakaway. The two-goal lead was all the Nailers needed to defeat the Reading Royals 7-5.
The Nailers start a home-and-home with the Elmira Jackals Tuesday in Elmira, before playing the second half Friday night at Cambria County War Memorial. For ticket information or to purchase tickets call 304-234-GOAL (4625) or online at shop.wheelingnailers.com. You can now purchase Nailers game tickets on your smartphone by visiting m.wheelingnailers.com.
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ECHL Stories from February 12, 2012
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