Jackals Alone in First Place After 3-2 Overtime Win in Wheeling

December 21, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Elmira Jackals News Release


Wheeling, W.V. - The Elmira Jackals jumped into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division on Wednesday night at WesBanco Arena, defeating the Wheeling Nailers in overtime, 3-2. Nick Niedert, an eighth-year goaltender making his first-ever ECHL start, made 24 saves in the win as Elmira ended its season-high seven-game road trip with a 5-2 record.

Dustin Gazley fed a pass in the left circle to Louie Caporusso who snapped a puck past Nailers netminder Patrick Killeen to put Elmira up 1-0 at 3:54 of the opening period.

With the Nailers on a power play, Zack Torquato lifted a puck through a screen over the glove of Niedert to tie the game, 1-1, at 6:33 on the power play.

After a spectacular pad save by Niedert on a chance by Zach Hansen on the doorstep, Olivier Dame-Malka fired a shot home from the blue line to give the Nailers their second power-play tally and first lead, 2-1, at 10:33 of the second.

Mike Radja tapped home a centering feed from Caporusso moments later, evening the action, 2-2, at 14:32.

After a scoreless third period, the Jackals and the Nailers entered overtime as the only two teams who had not lost past regulation in 2011-2012. Elmira's Riley Armstrong snapped a puck from the high slot past Killeen's stick at 3:12, giving Elmira it's third sudden-death victory of the season and seventh post-regulation win of the year as the Jackals prevailed with the 3-2 decision.

Niedert, a native of Hudson, Iowa who was signed earlier in the day by Elmira to a contract, is now 1-0 in his ECHL career. He had started the season with Danbury of the FHL and had made 13 prior stops in his playing career prior to suiting up for the Jackals this month. Niedert made his ECHL debut on Dec. 9, coming in during the third period of an 8-2 Elmira loss in Florida.

Killeen dropped to 9-6-1-0 with 20 saves.

The Jackals have now won eight-consecutive games decided by one goal and are 9-3-0-0 this season in 12 one-goal contests. Elmira is 3-0 in sudden-death OT and 4-0 in shootouts in 2011-2012, one season after the club went 0-7 in sudden death and 1-3 in shootouts.

The Jackals return home to host the Naielrs on Dec. 26 on 4-for-$44 night. To reserve your seats call (607) 734-PUCK (7825), visit the First Arena Box Office, or log onto JackalsHockey.com.



ECHL Stories from December 21, 2011


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