Nailers Fall in Tough Battle 5-2
January 16, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
A determined and hard-nosed effort for the Wheeling Nailers wasn't enough to get the Nailers the victory as they lost a tough battle to the Reading Royals 5-2 on Friday night at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Penn.
James Reimer made several fine saves to keep the Nailers out of the net at crucial moments.
Andrew Lord scored his 10th of the year on a 5-on-3 power play to give the Nailers a 1-0 lead at the end of 1 period. When he picked up the rebound off the goalie Reimer following a wrister from the high-slot by Mitch Ganzak.
Bryan "Boomer" Ewing scored his team leading 24th of the season early in the 3rd period to pull the Nailers to within 3-2 on a very pretty goal in which he got knocked down to his knees but quickly bounced up to his skates and kept possession of the puck to drive it home top-shelf.
Ewing has a 6 game goal scoring streak in which he has 8 goals. Ewing has also scored 15 goals in his last 12 games dating back to December 26th against Reading with the first of his two hat tricks. Ewing's 24 goals are most among all rookies and are 3rd overall in the ECHL.
Reading scored 3 goals in the 2nd including a penalty shot goal by Mac Faulkner who got yanked down by Mitch Ganzak when he got in the clear on a shorthanded breakaway.
Leading only 3-2 and with the Nailers buzzing the royals end with several fine opportunities steered away or covered up by Reimer, Reading scored with 3:44 remaining in the 3rd on a tip in front of the net by David Nimmo on a wrister taken from the right-point to take a 4-2 lead and added an empty-netter with 1:03 to seal the win.
It's Reading's first win of the year against the Wheeling Nailers in 4 tries and the first win at home for their head coach Larry Corville who is now 3-2-0 overall after taking the reins from Jason Nobilli who was let go by the team early last week. Kirk McDonald led the Royals attack with a pair of goals including the empty-netter at the end. Brock Hooten had a goal and 2 assists.
The Nailers margin atop the North Division remained at 3 points as the two teams tied for 2nd place, Johnstown and Dayton, both dropped 3-2 decisions to Elmira and Trenton respectively.
The Nailers are on their first and only losing streak of the year and have no dropped 5 in a row.
The Nailers were playing their first game this season without top scorer Jordan Morrison who was called up to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins this week. Aaron Clarke and Shane Willis also received call ups to Providence and Springfield.
The Nailers are back in action Saturday night against the Cincinnati Cyclones for the 11th and final time this season. Wheeling is looking to avenge their most recent loss to Cincinnati, a 10-4 decision Wednesday night at US Bank Arena.
ECHL Stories from January 16, 2009
- Royals Knock Off Nailers, 5-2 - Reading Royals
- Stockton's First Period Sinks Wranglers 7-2 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Grizzlies Come From Behind In Ontario; Win 4-3 In Overtime - Utah Grizzlies
- RoadRunners Clip Condors 4-3 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Chiefs Felled by Elmira - Johnstown Chiefs
- Bombers Fall 3-2 at Trenton - Dayton Bombers
- Jackals Powerplay Stuns Chiefs, 3-2 - Elmira Jackals
- Radoslovich Tallies Two as Devils Beat Bombers, 3-2 - Trenton Devils
- Nailers Fall in Tough Battle 5-2 - Wheeling Nailers
- Checkers Smash Sea Wolves, Win 5-1 - Charlotte Checkers
- Four Late Goals Sink Sea Wolves in Charlotte - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Game Preview: Ontario Reign Vs Utah Grizzlies - Ontario Reign
- Chiefs Add Former All-Star Forward - Johnstown Chiefs
- Blades Lose Pair to Rochester - Florida Everblades
- Bakersfield Condors vs. Phoenix RoadRunners - Bakersfield Condors
- ECHL Transactions - January 16 - ECHL
- Del Monte, Gunderson Added To Roster For All-Star Game Presented By Guardian Wear - ECHL
- B2 Networks Provides Online Broadcasts For ECHL All-Star Game Presented By Guardian Wear - ECHL
- Clarke, Morrison and Willis called up to AHL - Wheeling Nailers
- Lukin Added to 2009 All-Star Roster - Dayton Bombers
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Las Vegas Wranglers - Stockton Thunder
- Neuvirth Reassigned to Hershey - South Carolina Stingrays
- Chris Capraro Returns To Checkers Lineup - Charlotte Checkers
- Denny To ECHL All-Star TV Broadcast Team - Utah Grizzlies
- Fox Returns From Manitoba; Regan Assigned From Providence - Atlanta Gladiators
- All-Star Game Presented By Guardian Wear TV Crew Is Denny, Michaels, Smith - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Wheeling Nailers Red Jersey Auction Ends Today - Wheeling Nailers
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