Elmira Ekes out 3-2 Shootout Victory
December 6, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Wheeling Nailers Charge toward the Elmira Jackals
(Wheeling Nailers)
WHEELING, WV - The Wheeling Nailers and Elmira Jackals played their first of six head-to-head meetings on Sunday afternoon, and with five fighting majors aside, the two teams proved they still aren't big fans of each other. The Nailers rallied with two second period goals to tie the score, but Elmira prevailed, denting the twine on two of three shootout attempts for a 3-2 win at WesBanco Arena.
The Jackals caught the Nailers off guard in the first few minutes of the game, picking up a shorthanded goal at the 2:53 mark. Jacob MacDonald started the play on the left side of his own zone, before rushing the distance up the ice, and ripping in a wrist shot from the left circle. Elmira added another tally around the midway mark of the frame. Justin Kea set up Zach Tolkinen for a shot from the middle of the blueline, which was redirected into the cage by Tyler Currier.
Late in the second period, Wheeling rallied back to square the score at two. With 3:30 remaining, Mathew Maione sent a wrist shot through from the left point, which was tipped into the net by Ty Loney. Derek Army also picked up an assist on Loney's fifth tally of the season, before scoring his own goal 1:44 later. Sahir Gill won a face-off to Maione, who returned the puck to Gill along the right wing wall. Gill immediately found Derek Army in the slot, where he drilled a one-timer through Niklas Lundstrom's legs. The middle frame was filled with physicality, as both sides accumulated four fighting majors, bringing the game total to five.
Neither club was able to light the lamp in the third period or overtime, as the contest progressed to the shootout. That's where the Jackals capitalized, as Colin Jacobs and Justin Bernhardt scored in the first and third rounds, while Lundstrom was perfect on two Wheeling chances.
Niklas Lundstrom was the winning goaltender for Elmira, as he stopped 44 of the 46 shots he faced during the game, before turning in two more saves during the shootout. Casey DeSmith suffered the shootout setback in his first pro start, making 22 saves on 24 shots in the game, before being beaten on two of three shootout attempts.
The Nailers will play road games on Thursday against the Indy Fuel and Friday against the Toledo Walleye, before coming back to face the Walleye at home on Saturday at 7:35. That will be Old Time Hockey Night, where fans will have the chance to meet the Hanson Brothers from the movie "Slap Shot." The first 2,000 fans will receive trading cards, thanks to Play it Again Sports and Cipco Solutions, and the entire team will sign autographs after the game.
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 Wheeling Nailers Charge toward the Elmira Jackals |
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