Erik Johnson's 2 Goals Lead Nailers Back to \'W' Column
Published on January 23, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
The Wheeling Nailers put their 6 game winless streak to rest and strengthened their hold on first place in the North Division with a hard-fought 3-2 victory at the Johnstown Chiefs Friday night. The Nailers are beginning a 3 game road-trip in 3 days to 3 different cities.
Erik Johnson recorded his first multi-goal game of the season with a pair of lamp-lighters in the 2nd period, one on the power play and one even strength goal as the Nailers built a 3-0 lead.
Elgin Reid had a short-handed goal for the Nailers to get the scoring started in the first period on a fine cross-ice feed from the left dot by Tommy Goebel who was returning to the Nailers for his first ECHL action since December 6th. It was Reid's 9th goal of the year and his 3rd shorthanded goal. The Nailers are the league leaders in shorties with 11.
Two more nice assists resulted in the 2nd period goals as well. Doug Krantz on the power play from the left-point found Erik Johnson on the right-wing side of the crease all alone for a tip in to make it 2-0.
Then Aaron Clarke raced up the right wing on a 3-on-1 rush and carried it deep to the goal-line before centering to a wide open Johnson who put a little move on to get Chiefs goalie Kris Mayotte to commit one way allowing Johnson to score top shelf to the upper-right corner on Mayotte's glove-hand side for the 3-0 lead.
Johnstown rallied with a pair of goals in the 3rd including a tally by Kyle Bushee on the power play in the opening minute to get the Chiefs on the board. Blair Yaworski blasted a slap-shot top-shelf on aother power play at 5:49 to close the score to 3-2.
The Chiefs had more difficulty with the officials than the Nailers for much of the rest of the contest as they took several penalties down the stretch preventing them from getting too many chances for the game-tying goal. The killer was a David Schulz interference penalty with 3:03 remaining after he was frustrated by a hard-working Jon Grecu preventing him from getting the puck in a battle along the end-boards deep in the Johnstown zone.
After the Chiefs killed the Nailers power play they had 1:03 left back at even strength but they never got to pull goalie Kris Mayotte for the extra attacker as the Nailers intercepted and blocked pass after pass in the neutral zone and kept the play in Johnstown's end for the rest of the contest to run out the clock.
Wheeling stretches their lead in the North Division to 4 points with the win as the Chiefs failed in their opportunity to forge a tie at the top of the standings. In snapping their season long 6 game losing streak the Nailers improved to 23-11-6 for 52 points. Wheeling is 3-2-1 against Johnstown this year. The away team has won all 6 contests in this rivalry with Wheeling going 3-0-0 at Johnstown this year while they stand at 0-2-1 at WesBanco Arena vs. the Chiefs.
Wheeling and Johnstown will next meet on Sunday, February 15 at 2:35 back in Johnstown.
Bryan Ewing's ECHL leading goal scoring streak came to a close at 7 games. It is tied with Alaska's Josh Soares for the longest streak in the league this year.
The Nailers continue their 3 day-3 city road-trip Saturday night has the Nailers at the Reading Royals. Sunday finds the Nailers at the Elmira Jackals for a 4:05 tilt.
Wheeling has another great promotion lined up for their next home game on Saturday, January 31st in their 8:05 game vs. the Mississippi Seawolves on Coach Reno Bobblehead night. The first 2500 fans get the Coach Reno bobblehead and the Nailers will be honoring the legendary coach of the Steubenville Big Red football program as well as the Steubenville community.
ECHL Stories from January 23, 2009
- Aces hand Condors 5-2 loss at The Nest - Bakersfield Condors
- RoadRunners Silence Thunder 4-1 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Grizzlies Fall to Idaho In Overtime, 6-5 - Utah Grizzlies
- Steelheads beat Utah in OT, 6-5 - Idaho Steelheads
- Chiefs fall short against Nailers - Johnstown Chiefs
- Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Seat Auction Hits eBay - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Checkers' Miles supplies heroics in OT against Wolves - Charlotte Checkers
- Blades win streak ends at 9 after 3-1 loss to Gwinnett - Florida Everblades
- Deschamps notches two goals but Sea Wolves fall to Checkers in OT 6-5 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Bombers Fall Behind Early, Lose At Cincinnati 7-1 - Dayton Bombers
- Coleman Tames Jackals in 2-1 Devils Victory - Trenton Devils
- Gladiators Knock off Everblades 3-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Erik Johnson's 2 Goals Lead Nailers Back to âW' Column - Wheeling Nailers
- Cyclones Score Early, Often, In 7-1 Win Over Dayton - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Reign shuffle roster; Rheault back in lineup - Ontario Reign
- ECHL Transactions - January 23 - ECHL
- Johnson Called up to Lake Erie - Atlanta Gladiators
- Kelly Cup Playoffs Format - ECHL
- Chiefs Acquire Defenseman Card - Johnstown Chiefs
- Stockton's Lalonde Named In Glas Co ECHL Player Of The Week - ECHL
- McEwan Returns From AHL Worcester - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Lalonde Named In Glas Co ECHL Player of the Week - Stockton Thunder
- Hamilton and Czuy Return To Las Vegas; Pair of Forwards Added From the AHL - Las Vegas Wranglers
- First Round Draft Pick Helenius Returns to Sea Wolves - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Rob LaLonde Returned To Reading - Reading Royals
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Phoenix - Stockton Thunder
- Checkers Jakaitis Returns From Monarchs - Charlotte Checkers
- Bakersfield Condors vs. Alaska Aces - Bakersfield Condors
- Clarke, Goebel Return from AHL Teams - Wheeling Nailers
- Royals Road Warriors Ready To Mount Second Annual 'Expedition to Elmira' - Reading Royals
- Royals and U.S. Army Present Fourth Annual 'Battle of the Badges' - Reading Royals
- ECHL Today - ECHL
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.
