Nailers Beat Cyclones to Finish Road Trip 3-0-1
February 3, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
CINCINNATI, OH - It took some work, but thanks to a successful road trip in which they earned seven of eight points, the Wheeling Nailers are back at .500. On Wednesday night, the Nailers did it all with special teams, scoring twice shorthanded and once on the power play, as they defeated the Cincinnati Cyclones, 3-1 at US Bank Arena. Matt Tabrum, Chris Ciotti, and Anton Zlobin were the goal scorers, and Franky Palazzese made 25 saves.
For the third time in four games on the road trip, the Nailers opened the scoring. They did so with a shorthanded goal at the 8:48 mark of the first period. Chris Ciotti gobbled up a loose puck in his slot, and immediately started an odd-man rush in the opposite direction. After gaining the blueline, Tabrum sauced a pass through the slot to Matt Tabrum, who waited out Andy Iles, then lifted a shot into the top portion of the goal.
Wheeling also netted a shorthanded goal in the second period, marking the third time this season that the club has recorded two shorties in the same contest. This time, Ciotti played the role of the finisher, as he blasted in a pass from Shane Bakker, completing a 2-on-1 rush. The play started with a lead pass out of the defensive zone by Paul Cianfrini. The Cyclones pulled within a goal with 1:25 left in the frame, when Andrew Yogan found Peter Quenneville in the left circle, where he fired a shot through traffic and into the net.
At the start of the third period, the Nailers squashed whatever momentum Cincinnati could muster, regaining their two-goal lead with a power play goal. Jarrett Burton charged over to keep the puck alive at the right point, immediately turning it into a scoring chance. The initial attempt got blocked, but the rebound deflected out to Anton Zlobin, who clobbered a shot into the back of the cage, giving the game a 3-1 final score.
Franky Palazzese earned his third win of the road trip for Wheeling, making 25 saves on 26 shots. Andy Iles took the loss for Cincinnati, despite a 25-save performance on 28 attempts.
The Nailers will play two home games on Friday and Saturday, both against Reading. The weekend starts with a Flat Screen Friday, presented by The Highlands and Bordas & Bordas, in addition to a Frosty Friday at 7:35. Saturday's game is Pittsburgh Steelers Night, starring Brett Keisel at 8:05.
ECHL Stories from February 3, 2016
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- ECHL Today - February 3 - ECHL
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