ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers move back into first place

Published on February 7, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, WV - The Wheeling Nailers took the Elmira Jackals to overtime Saturday night, but fell 3-2 in a shootout in front of 3,747 fans at WesBanco Arena. Nonetheless, the point that the Nailers earned in the shootout loss was good enough to bring them back into a tie for first place in the North Division.

Elgin Reid gave the Nailers a 1-0 lead at the 13:15 mark of the first period when he scored on a slapper from the blue line on a power-play. Jordan Morrison and Mitch Ganzak assisted on Reid's goal, which was the difference in the game through the first 20 minutes of play.

Elmira wasted little time in tying the game at 1-1 early in the second when Chris Korchinski scored his 17th goal of the season on assists from Travis Gawryletz and Benoit Doucet. The Jackals took their first lead of the game at the 11:41 mark of the second period when Mike Sgroi cleaned up a loose puck in front of the net for his fourth goal of the 2008-09 campaign.

Mitch Ganzak gave the Nailers a big lift at the 8:35 mark of the third frame when he light the lamp on a wrist shot between the circles that froze Elmira goalie Mitch O'Keefe. Jason Payne and Morrison were credited with the assists on Ganzak's goal, which was all the Nailers needed to send the game into overtime. It was Morrison's second assist of the contest.

A scoreless overtime sent the game into a sudden death shootout. Ganzak, who scored the game-tying goal for the Nailers, gave his club a 1-0 lead in the shootout when he lifted a glove side shot past O'Keefe. However, Benoit Doucet and Pierre-Luc Faubert scored following Ganzak's tally and Elmira held on to earn the extra point in the shootout.

The Wheeling Nailers have a tough stretch of eight road games over the next 17 days. The next Nailers home game is against the Dayton Bombers at 7:35 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27. The Nailers are offering two promotions in conjunction with the game. First, the game is Friday Family Four Pack Night, where families receive four tickets, four sodas and four hotdogs for just $44. Also, the first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a free collector poster.

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ECHL Stories from February 7, 2009


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