ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Elmira Breaks 4-4 Deadlock in 3rd For 6-4 Win

March 27, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Elmira, NY - The Wheeling Nailers rallied from a 2 goal deficit to tie the score at 4-4 before succumbing to the Elmira Jackals 6-4 Friday night at First Arena in Elmira, NY. The game was the opener of a 3-game showdown series between the two teams with big playoff implications in the North Division. The top 4 teams in the division go to the playoffs and the Nailers and Jackals are a couple of teams battling in a 5-way jam at the top of the standings.

Erik Johnson paced the Nailers in the losing effort with a pair of goals. Tommy Goebel was credited with his 13th goal of the year although Jordan Morrison was the player who appeared to be digging for it in the crease and may later be given credit for the lamplighter instead. Billy Ryan continued with his hot hand with his 10th goal since joining the Nailers a little over a month ago.

Erik Johnson is now 3rd on the Nailers with 19 goals trailing only Bryan Ewing and Jordan Morrison.

The Elmira Jackals scored the game winner 7 minutes into the 3rd when Paul McIlveen intercepted the puck along the wall and then fired a slapshot which was tipped in front by Bear Trapp to change the speed on the drive and send it fluttering into the goal. Chris Korchinski had a pair of goals to lead the Elmira attack and Pierre-Luc Faubert scored as well.

The Nailers had several great chances to try to even the game in the 3rd when they were trailing 5-4 but weren't able to get the bounces they needed and Elmira netminder Michael Teslak stood tall for the victory.

Paul McIlveen tacked on an empty-net goal with 7 seconds left for the 6-4 final.

David Brown took the loss for the Nailers to fall to 13-4-2 on the season.

Wheeling is 3-3-1 against Elmira on the regular season with a couple more games remaining in this big 3-game North Division showdown series. The Nailers and the Jackals do it against Saturday night at 7:35 and then wrap up the series on Sunday afternoon at 4:05.

Wheeling has 5 games remaining on the regular season and can move back into a tie for the last playoff spot with a win Saturday.

The Nailers last home games of the regular season are on Wednesday, April 1st and Friday, April 3rd.

The Wednesday game against the Trenton Devils at 7:05 is the last WesBanco Wednesday of the year. Get 2-for-1 tickets when you show your WesBanco checkbook or debit card or coupon available at participating WesBanco locations. Also get $1 drink specials through the first intermission. The first 1000 kids age 14 and under will receive a special giveaway courtesy of the Nailers Spring Cleaning promotion. Sidney Crosby mini-sticks, Nailers Youth Backpacks and Moondog Bobbleheads will be among the random giveaway items. Wednesday is also biker night with $10 parking and admission packages available.

Friday, April 3rd the Nailers take on the Dayton Bombers at 7:35 on Fan Appreciation Night. The Nailers will give away special prizes to several fans in attendance and one lucky fan will win the chance to shoot for a new car courtesy of Doan Ford. It's also Little League night. All Little Leagues can get a special $10 Nailers and Wild Things combo ticket. And one lucky Little League organization will win $500 for their program for uniforms and equipment. It's also a Friday Family Four-Pack night. Get 4 tickets, 4 sodas, 4 hotdogs and a large popcorn all for just $44.

Post-season playoff packages are available now. Purchase your 6-game playoff package that is good for the entire post-season. You get a discount vs. the gate price and any unused playoff credits are forwarded to the following season.

Season tickets are on sale now for the 2009-10 campaign. Reserve your season ticket for as low as $50. There are some great incentives to reserve your season ticket ahead of time. If you pay for your season ticket in full by May 1 the Nailers will give you free parking in the back lot for the season. Those who deposit $100 by May 1 will have the $18 arena fee waived.

For more information contact the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL (that's 234-4625) or log on at wheelingnailers.com.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from March 27, 2009


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