Farrer's Late Goal Gives Nailers Thrilling Victory
April 3, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
WHEELING, WV - The Wheeling Nailers and Kalamazoo Wings played game one of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Tuesday at WesBanco Arena, and did so with a dramatic ending. Ben Farrer redirected Matt Schepke's pass into the top of the net, with 1:07 remaining in the third period, breaking a 2-2 tie, in a game that the Nailers ultimately won, 4-2.
The teams took the first few minutes of the first period to feel each other out, as neither side could mount any offense. The Nailers created some opportunities later in the first. Andrew Hotham sent a puck low into the slot, with Cody Chupp in front of the net, but Riley Gill came up with the big save. Kalamazoo came right back with an opportunity of their own, but Sam Ftorek's shot was deflected over the top of the protective netting.
The Nailers went on the power play at 15:02, but could not put the puck past Gill. The Kalamazoo netminder came up with a huge save with 25 seconds to go in the first, robbing Cam Fergus of his professional goal. The Nailers dominated the first period, outshooting the Wings 17-6, and spent most of the period in the Kalamazoo defensive zone.
Paul Crowder took a hooking penalty at 1:27 of the second period, and it only took the Wings 12 seconds to capitalize on the man advantage. Trent Daavettila fed a wide open Darryl Bootland in front of the Nailers net, and he slid it home past Patrick Killeen. Dwight Helminen picked up the second assist on the goal. Wheeling came close to beating Gill once again, as Crowder found Chris Barton sprinting toward the net, but Barton put the shot wide with 9:55 to in the second.
At 13:01, Joe Charlebois took a hooking penalty, and the Nailers went back on the powerplay. Crowder split the Kalamazoo defense, and broke in on goal, but Gill was able to make the left pad save, for his 25th stop of the game. The Wings killed off the penalty, and created a three-on-one opportunity, but Justin Taylor fired the shot wide.
Harry Young deflected the puck over the glass, and took a delay of game penalty with 1:55 to go in the second. It only took the Nailers 25 seconds into the power play to tie the game at one. Hotham skated behind the net, and found Crowder cutting toward the net, passing him the puck for the one-timer goal. Zack Torquato picked up a assist on the equalizer.
A bad line change cost the Nailers early in the third period. Only 20 seconds after Barton's penalty expired, Nick Sirota broke in all alone and went to the backhand, to beat Killeen, and gave the Wings a 2-1 lead. Christaan Minella then caused a Kalamazoo turnover in the corner, and found Chris Barton breaking toward the net, where stuffed it home, to tie the game a two with 11:50 to go. With 1:07 remaining, Ben Farrer broke the deadlock, deflecting Matt Schepke's centering pass just underneath the crossbar. Hotham joined Schepke with an assist on the goal, before collecting his third point of the night, adding an empty netter to ice the 4-2 victory, and the 1-0 series lead.
Patrick Killeen got the win for the Nailers, making 25 saves on 27 shots. Riley Gill took the loss for the Wings, stopping 35 of the 38 shots he faced.
The Nailers and Wings will play game two tomorrow night at Wesbanco Arena at 7:05 p.m. For ticket information or to purchase tickets call 304-234-GOAL (4625) or online at shop.wheelingnailers.com. You can now purchase Nailers game tickets on your smartphone by visiting m.wheelingnailers.com.
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