Nailers Beat Titans in a Special (Teams) Kind of Way
December 28, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
TRENTON, NJ- Wednesday night's divisional showdown between the Wheeling Nailers and Trenton Titans had excitement written all over it, and in the end, it was the Nailers who provided the exclamation point. Christiaan Minella's power play tally with 1:45 left in the third period broke a 4-4 tie, and gave Wheeling a big two points in front of 4,321 fans at Sun National Bank Center.
Less than one minute into the contest, the Titans opened the scoring. Steve Silva skated the puck down the right side of the ice, and ripped in a wrist shot on the far side of the net from the right circle. At the 7:08 mark of the first, Trenton added to the lead, as Steve Silva slipped a pass into the middle for Dustin Cameron, who deflected the puck in through Patrick Killeen.
A little more than halfway through the opening period, the Nailers began to turn the game their way. Dave Caruso's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the 11:43 mark gave Wheeling a power play, and the visitors capitalized, as Mickael Bedard found Matt Lombardi for a one-timer from the bottom of the right circle.
Early in the second period, the Nailers evened the score, as Denver Manderson broke down the left side of the ice, and snapped in a shorthanded wrist shot. A little less than six minutes later, Wheeling took their first lead of the game. Paul Crowder won an offensive zone face-off while on the man advantage, and Denver Manderson found Kyle Bushee, who fired in a shot from the top of the left circle. The visiting team wasn't done in the middle frame, as Ben Farrer scored off of Christiaan Minella's centering feed with 6:54 remaining, putting the Nailers ahead 4-2.
Trenton battled back in the third period, starting with Matt Germain's deflection goal off of a pass by Chase Langeraap at the 8:33 mark. Corey Syvret then tied the game at four, taking advantage of a delayed penalty against the Nailers. However, it was Wheeling who had the last laugh on this night, as Christiaan Minella's backhand try found paydirt with 1:45 left in regulation, giving the Nailers a 5-4 victory, while also completing a perfect night on special teams.
Wheeling's power play and penalty kill were both 3-for-3 in the contest, while also producing a shorthanded goal.
Patrick Killeen snagged his tenth win of the season for the Nailers, making 31 saves on 35 shots. Brad Phillips took the loss for Trenton, allowing two goals on 22 shots, after replacing Dave Caruso, who let in three goals on 16 shots.
The Nailers will conclude their three-game road trip in Elmira on Friday at 7:35, before returning home to WesBanco Arena to face the Reading Royals on Saturday night at 7:35. 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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