ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers mount comeback in 3rd but fail

Published on February 13, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling, WV-- The Nailers' comeback efforts in the 3rd period pulled the team to within a goal but in the end Wheeling fell just short in a 5-3 setback to the Elmira Jackals Saturday night at WesBanco Arena.

Trailing 4-1 to begin the 3rd, Wheeling was able to close it to a one goal game with 1:02 left when Andrew Lord knocked in a rebound on the drive of Thomas Beauregard. The Nailers had an 18 shot barrage on Andy Chiodo in the 3rd period to climb back into the game. But Justin Donati would finish the night with an empty-netter a few seconds later to provide for the 5-3 final in front of an excited and boisterous crowd of 3451 on Boy Scout Night.

Two of the Nailers goals would come from defensemen as Mitch Ganzak and Kevin Schmidt would both score their 7th goals of the season.

Former Nailers and Penguins goalie Andy Chiodo again picked up the victory for the Jackals against his former team.

Olivier Proulx snatched the rebound of a Wes Cunningham's shot and fired it in behind Michael-Lee Teslak in the first six seconds of an Elmira power play, 6:40 in the first also assisted by Chris Korchinski.

Mitch Ganzak intercepted, cut into the high slot and rifled it in over the right shoulder of former Nailer Andy Chiodo that tied it up 1-1 7:56 in the first for a Nailers power play.

Justin Donati centered for Tyler Donati who shot it in for their 2nd power play goal of the evening that gave the Jackals the lead 2-1 at 4:52 into the 2nd period.

The Jackals crashed the net and knocked it in past Teslak but Referee Geno Binda signaled no goal at 5:30 into the 2nd period.

Tyler Donati scored top shelf :31 seconds into the power play on the Ryan Schnell 5:00 spearing major and game misconduct penalty that stretched the Elmira lead to 3-1. Wheeling was able to slam the door on the Jackals for the remaining 4:29 of the power play though to stay within two.

Proulx raced in on Berkhoel on a shorthanded run and fired home his 2nd goal of the evening to give the Jackals a 4-1 lead moments after the Nailers had almost scored on their power play.

Trailing 4-1 entering the 3rd, the Nailers got a momentum boost with a goal by Kevin Schmidt only 30 seconds into the final period. Schmidt made it a two goal game as he ripped one top shelf from the top of the left wing circle, 4-2.

Jarrett Konkle took a 5:00 boarding and game misconduct penalty with 8:44 left in the 3rd when the Nailers trailed 4-2. But Wheeling couldn't capitalize on the power play opportunity which ended when Kyle Bushee was called for a penalty with a little less than two minutes left on the major.

Andrew Lord pushed a rebound on the drive by Thomas Beauregard from the top of the left wing circle for a power play goal with an extra attacker with 1:02 left in the 3rd, 4-3

Justin Donati blasted it in the empty net with 41 seconds left to seal the win for the Jackals with a 5-3 win.

Elmira went 3 for 7 on the power play and also tacked on a shorthanded goal.

The Nailers went 2 for 7 on the power play. Wheeling outshot the Jackals 38-21 including 18-6 in the 3rd period in their comeback efforts.

The Nailers fall to 26-22-4 with 56 points. The other results around the ECHL left the Nailers in a 3 way tie for 2nd place in the North Division with Kalamazoo and Toledo all with 56 points. Wheeling remains in a 6th place tie in the American Conference.

Elmira is unbeaten in their last 10 regulation games 9-0-1 and improved to 27-17-5. Wheeling is 4-5-0 against the Jackals in 2009-10.

The Nailers only have 20 games remaining in the regular season. They are back in action Sunday evening at 5:00pm at Reading.

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.

Wheeling has a pair of home game on March 5th and 6th including a WTRF Friday Family Four Pack night on March 5th and an O.V. McBear Bobblehead giveaway night on March 6th.

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.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from February 13, 2010


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