Dayton Uses Special Teams to Defeat Wheeling
December 29, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
DAYTON, OH -The Dayton Bombers (13-8-4-3=33) scored three power-play goals, a shorthanded goal and an empty net goal en route to a 5-2 win over the Wheeling Nailers (9-19-1-2=21) Saturday night at the Nutter Center. The two will square off again on Monday in Wheeling.
Masahito Nishiwaki scored his first of two on the night at 10:31 of the first period to give Dayton the 1-0 lead. With 11 seconds remaining on the minor to Todd Spencer, Nishiwaki's shot deflected off a defenders stick and over the shoulder of Nathan Marsters.
For the third night in a row, the Nailers made a goaltending change before the start of the second period. A collision between Chanse Fitzpatrick and Marsters left the goalie in pain and out of commission with 3:22 remaining in the first. Martin Houle replaced the injured Marsters for the remainder of the game.
Dayton found the net shorthanded in the opening minutes of the second period to increase their lead to 2-0. It was Nishiwaki again, this time on a great feed from Peter Flache, dancing around Houle for the backhanded goal at 4:45. The winger, playing in his first season in the United States, was named the first star of the game.
The Nailers cut the lead in half at 7:11 of the second. Chris Snavely dropped a pass for David Laliberte just inside the blue line and the rookie snapped home his tenth goal of the season past Rejean Beauchemin.
Houle and the Nailers caught a break a few minutes later. Fitzpatrick redirected a puck, with his skate, into the net and it was originally ruled a goal. After a conference with the linesmen, the call was changed and the score remained 2-1 Bombers. The sigh of relief was short-lived as the Bombers score a power-play goal less than a minute later.
Fitzpatrick ripped a shot from the right circle and the stick of Flache redirected the puck under the arm of Houle to make it 3-1 at 11:51.
It stayed a two-goal lead for Dayton until the final 5:15 of the third when Taylor Christie ripped one home. Chris Eade and Brad Bonello assisted on the third power-play goal of the game.
Joe Jensen helped make things interesting with his third goal of the season at 16:43. Aaron Clarke touched a pass to Vadim Slivchenko who quickly slid it to Jensen in the slot for the one-timer. It was the first point of the season for Slivchenko since joining the Nailers seven game ago.
With Houle on the bench, Fitzpatrick sealed the deal by rifling and empty netter from his own blue line at 18:50.
A rematch will take place on Monday night at WesBanco Arena. As part of the New Years Eve celebration, Doan Ford will be giving away a chance to win a car and the Nailers will raffle off their 15th Anniversary Harley Davidson. Gametime is set for 7:05pm. Call 304-234-GOAL or visit www.wheelingnailers.com for ticketing information.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from December 29, 2007
- Falcons Fall 4-3 in Shootout - Fresno Falcons
- Steelheads Power Past RoadRunners 5-3 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Royals Pull Out A Point In Shootout Loss To Trenton, 2-1 - Reading Royals
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Steelheads Second Period Burst Aids 5-3 Win Over RoadRunners - Idaho Steelheads
- Wildcatters double-up Sea Wolves - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Pilots Make it 3 Wins in 4 with 6-5 OT WIN over Everblades - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Four-goal third stops streaking Jackals 5-1 - Elmira Jackals
- 'Blades fall 6-5 in overtime to Pensacola - Florida Everblades
- 'Blades fall 6-5 in overtime to Pensacola - Florida Everblades
- Smith, Trenton shine in the shootout, beat Reading 2-1 - Trenton Devils
- Dayton Uses Special Teams to Defeat Wheeling - Wheeling Nailers
- Toneys Award! Thrill ride continues in Lynx win on Saturday - Augusta Lynx
- Cyclones Take 5-1 Win at Elmira For Seventh Straight Win - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Inferno take Lynx to Shootout - Columbia Inferno
- Checkers defeated by Stingrays, lose 5-2 - Charlotte Checkers
- Sea Wolves forward Lascek recalled to Norfolk - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Cyclones Loan Matt Macdonald To Rockford - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Royals Sign Larry Courville - Reading Royals
- Condors Game Preview - Bakersfield Condors
- Checkers Add Hartman And Burgess - Charlotte Checkers
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Bakersfield Condors - Stockton Thunder
- Three Checkers Players Called Up - Charlotte Checkers
- Grant McNeill and Stephen Werner Called up to Hershey - South Carolina Stingrays
- Beaudoin Called Up To American Hockey League's Rochester Americans - Dayton Bombers
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Jackals Slip Past Devils In Shootout 4-3 - Elmira Jackals
- Utah ties game with :02 left, nips Alaska 5-4 in shootout - Alaska Aces
- Grizzlies Defeat Alaska 5-4 In Shootout - Utah Grizzlies
- Chiefs Topple Nailers - Johnstown Chiefs
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.
