ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Clarke Blasts Game Winner; Nailers Win 7-6.

March 29, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


READING, PA - Aaron Clarke's second goal of the game with only 42.6 seconds remaining in overtime gave the Wheeling Nailers a 7-6 win over the Reading Royals in their final meeting of the season Saturday night at Sovereign Center. Peter Vetri came in to relieve an injured Ryan Scott in the third period and earned his first professional win by allowing just one goal in 10:17 of work. Wheeling has now won four consecutive road games.

The first period belonged to the Nailers as they scored the only three goals of the frame. Aaron Boogaard's shot was redirected in at 2:04 to open the scoring with Kevin Croxton assisting on the play. Justin Chwedoruk followed it up with his 17th of the season at 3:51. Clarke setup Todd Spencer for a shot from the point and Chwedoruk was there to backhand in the rebound. The third goal didn't come until 18:25 of the period when Clarke scored his first of the game. Croxton's shot slipped between the legs of Jonathan Murray and rolled into the crease. Clarke went sliding into the net with the puck to give Wheeling the 3-0 lead.

Reading got on the board with a pair of goals, 23 seconds apart, in the opening minutes of the second period. Charlie Kronschnabel skated the puck below the goal line and banked it home off the leg of Scott at 2:37. Moments later Scott made the initial save on Shawn Germain's shot but the rebound came to Chris Blight and Joe Zappala tipped it in. Both teams traded scoring chances the rest of the period but the game moved to the third period with the Nailers ahead 3-2.

The two teams combined for seven goals in the third period alone including fouro of them coming within the first 3:10. Jon D'Aversa scored just 44 seconds into the final frame to give the Nailers some breathing room with a 4-2 lead. It was the first ECHL goal for D'Aversa in his 22nd game with Wheeling.

The Royals' Brock Hooten responded with a goal of his own at the 1:15 mark to bring his team back within one.

Wheeling built themselves a 6-3 lead as Matt Dias and Matt Byrnes scoring 39 seconds apart. For Dias it was his first professional goal in just his second game as Rank found him alone in front of the net at 2:31. Sean Collins then set up Byrnes at 3:10 that chased Murray from the net. Tyler Sims replaced Murray and held the Nailers off the board through the rest of regulation.

Malcolm MacMillan's goal at 7:27 brought the Royals back to within two. Rob Lalonde and Victor Uchevatov earned asstists on the play.

A controversial goal cut the Nailers lead to 6-5 as Kevin Saurette put the puck in the empty net with an injured Scott down in his crease. After Scott went down, play continued as the Nailers couldn't regain possession of the puck to draw the whistle for their injured goalie. Reading completed their comeback at 15:07 to force the extra session on PJ Atherton's 14th of the year.

Clarke's game-winner came on a one-time slapshot that he ripped over the glove of Sims. Kyle Rank set him up from the top of the right circle for the blast.

Wheeling's final home game of the season is on Wednesday against the Dayton Bombers. It's Fan Appreciation Night as the entire team will be available for autographs following the game. The game starts at 7:05pm. Call 304-234-GOAL for ticketing information or visit www.wheelingnailers.com.

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ECHL Stories from March 29, 2008


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