ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Darling Spectacular in Nailers' 3-2 Shootout Win

Published on December 28, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Curtis Darling made a number of incredible saves among his 52 total as the Nailers escaped from Dayton with a hard-fought 3-2 shootout victory.

Darling also turned aside all 5 Bombers in the shootout and Andrew Lord scored the game-winner at the beginning of the 5th round.

In possibly his best performance of the year, Darling got redemption from his last trip to the Nutter Center. The December 6th game here was perhaps his worst outing of the season in an 8-1 loss. But possibly using that game as motivation Darling put on a wonderful show including a couple of stretches where he made several saves in a row on multiple shot rushes. He also turned aside all 8 of Dayton's overtime shots to set up the shootout triumph including several in the final minute when they were on the power-play.

Wheeling came tantalizingly close to winning the game on several rushes in the extra period. Kelly Miller cut in behind the defense and was turned aside by Dayton net-minder Paul Drew. Chris Snavely raced away a minute later on a clean breakaway but Drew made the save. And a minute after that Andrew Lord weaved his way through the defense and across the crease but his drive hit the post and the Bombers stayed alive.

Nailers goals in regulation came from a couple of blue-liners, Mitch Ganzak and Elgin Reid. Reid's 7th of the year came at 16:39 of the 1st as he blasted a one-timer from center-point to give Wheeling the 1-0 advantage. Mitch Ganzak's 3rd of the year was a feed from the center-point that appeared to be a pass intended for a teammate stationed on the side of the goal but a Dayton defenseman got his stick on the puck first and accidentally deflected it into his own net for a quirky goal.

Controversy ensued on Dayton's game-tying goal midway through the 2nd period as several Bombers players rushed the net shoving Curtis Darling into the back of the cage. Danny Lapointe got credit for his 7th of the year as the puck appeared to cross the goal-line just before the goal got knocked off the pegs. The Nailers argued with the officials perhaps that Darling had possession of the puck and also that the Bombers interfered with him on some of the shoving in the crease. But the goal stood and the game was tied setting the stage for Darling to work his magic with a 21 save performance in the 2nd period alone.

Darling has won 4 straight since his December 6th loss and his record improves to 13-4-4 with the win. His 52 saves are his second highest total on the year eclipsed only by his 53 save performance (on 56 shots) vs. Trenton on October 26.

The Nailers maintained a 2 point lead in the North Division race at 19-5-5 for 43 points, 2 points ahead of the Johnstown Chiefs who won earlier in the afternoon in overtime over Elmira.

Wheeling is 4-2-0 against the Dayton Bombers and both of the team's shootout wins have come at the Nutter Center. Wheeling will face Dayton 14 times this year, the most of any opponent. Their next matchup comes on Friday, January 9th when the Dayton Bombers come to WesBanco Arena,

The Nailers will return to home-ice on New Year's Eve, Wednesday, December 31 with a 7:05 tilt against the Cincinnati Cyclones.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from December 28, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central