Nailers Earn Point In 4-3 Shootout Loss
Published on February 9, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Wheeling, WV-An exciting comeback effort in the 3rd period with 2 goals in the game's final 12 minutes earned the Nailers a valuable point but they were unable to grab the second point as they dropped a 4-3 shootout decision to the Johnstown Chiefs Tuesday afternoon at WesBanco Arena. The Nailers are unbeaten in regulation in their last 5 home games going 4-0-1 and are now 9-1-2 in their last 12 on home ice.
The game had an early 11:05am start-time and was supposed to be a special Field-Trip Education Day with many area schools scheduled to bring thousands of students and teachers to the game. Unfortunately, the inclement weather forced the area school to cancel classes for the day and thus all the planned field trips to the game were called off as well. Several area fans took advantage of the team's $10 Business Person's Special to enjoy a long lunch-break and take in an exciting early Tuesday game.
It was the 6th time in 9 meetings this year that the Nailers and Chiefs had to go past regulation to decide the winner. The Nailers are 5-1-3 against Johnstown this season.
Leading for the Nailers were Thomas Beauregard with his team leading 31st goal on his 24th birthday, Cleve Kinley with a goal, and Joey Haddad with a goal that tied it up with 4:00 left in the game and a shootout goal. Mitch Ganzak also scored for the Nailers in the shootout.
Kris Mayotte thwarted several quality Nailers scoring chances and made 37 saves on 40 shots to pick up the win.
With the one point the Nailers pulled to within 5 points of the North Division leading Cincinnati Cyclones. Wheeling also got a bit more breathing room over 3rd place Kalamazoo and Toledo and now lead both of those teams by 2 points in the North. Wheeling currently stands all alone in 4th place in the American Conference just one point ahead of Elmira and only two points back of 3rd place Charlotte.
The Johnstown Chiefs took a 2-0 lead after one period of play. Colin Power started the game with a bang and dropped the gloves just one second into the first to scrap with Jeff Martens that set the tone for the day.
Former Wheeling Nailer, Jon Ralph backhanded it in past Adam Berkhoel to get the Chiefs on the board 1:35 into the first, 1-0. He played a handful of games with Wheeling last year in March.
Connor Shields scored on the back door with a nice cross ice pass from Matthew Kang and Chanse Fitzpatrick that gave Johnstown a 2-0 lead at 9:42 in the second.
Thomas Beauregard poked a hopping puck along the goal line in past Kris Mayotte, 2-1 at 3:08 into the second. Aaron Clarke and Andrew Lord were rewarded with assists. The Nailers power play goal was Beauregard's 31st of the season and leads the American League in goals.
Shields moved from left to right across the crease to slide it in past Berkhoel for his second of the game and Johnstown led 3-1 15:39 in the second.
The Nailers overcame a 3-1 deficit in the last twelve minutes of the game.
Cleve Kinley shot it low and glove hand side past Mayotte from the center point for his 3rd of the season and brought the Nailers within a goal 3-2 at 8:32 in the third. Lane Caffaro in his first game back with the Nailers along with Joey Haddad were awarded with assists.
Joey Haddad tied it up 3-3 as he carried it to the slot and fired it past Mayotte with 3:58 left in regulation. It was Haddad's 7th of the season from T.J. Fox and Alex Grant.
The overtime period featured several good chances on both sides of the ice but Mayotte and Berkhoel in the Johnstown and Wheeling creases both made some stellar stops to send the game into a 5 player shootout.
Joey Haddad and Mitch Ganzak scored early in the shootout as the Nailers led 2-1 after two rounds but the Chiefs would come back to tie it and then Chanse Fitzpatrick would flip it top shelf over the reach of Adam Berkhoel' s glove for the game-winner in the 5th round. It was the second time in a row Fitzpatrick would get a late game-winner at WesBanco Arena having also scored an overtime goal on January 16th in Wheeling.
This was the 6th time this year that the game was sent into additional periods for the Nailers and Chiefs and only the 4th shootout of the season for the Nailers. The Nailers are 2-2 in shootouts this year with the last shootout being December 2 against the Chiefs in Johnstown. The Nailers are 5-1-3 against the chiefs in the regular season. The two teams play one more regular season game on March 13 in Johnstown.
The Nailers homestand wraps up this Friday and Saturday as the Elmira Jackals come to town for a pair of games. Friday is WTRF-Friday Family Four-Pack Night featuring four tickets, four sodas, four hot dogs and a popcorn all for $44. Saturday is Boy Scout Night and also Mini-Stick Night for the first 1,000 kids courtesy of Tim Horton's.
Following Saturday's game, the Nailers will not be back at WesBanco for three weeks as they will embark on a seven game road trip to carry them into the month of March.
Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL or toll-free at 1-877-NAIL-TIX. Get your tickets online at the team's website at wheelingnailers.com
www.wheelingnailers.com
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