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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Overpower Royals in Third

December 14, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


READING, PA- Before the game, Ryan Moren was unsure how much ice-time he would be able to give coach Glenn Patrick. In the third period, it was Moren's goal and assist that powered the Wheeling Nailers (10-12-0-1) to a 5-3 win over the Reading Royals (10-10-0-4)Wednesday night at the Sovereign Center.

With Moren feeling under-the-weather in the afternoon leading up to the midweek contest, he managed to assist on the game winning goal by John Foster and add some insurance later in the third.

In the first period it was Joe Guenther with a pair of goals that had the teams tied at two after one. Ryan Smyth recorded assists on both goals to increase his assist streak to eight games. Smyth's eight-game streak is the longest in the ECHL this season, one ahead fellow rookie Maxime Boisclair of Johnstown.

Guenther opened the scoring 5:46 into the game converting the rebound of Smyth's turnaround shot. Just under seven minutes later, John Snowden's wrist shot avoided a traffic jam in front and snuck under the crossbar to even the game at one.

Reading converted on their first power-play opportiunity at the 15:45 mark of the opening period with Ned Lukacevic's first goal of the season.

After the goal, Paul Bissonnette and Doug Christiansen wound up in a scrum in front of the net. Bissonnette knocked over Christiansen but only after Christiansen was able to pull the jersey of Bissonnette over his head and completely off.

Under rule 47.13 a player must have his jersey fastened to his protective pants. Bissonnette was assessed a game misconduct after the referee noticed the buttons on his pants still connected showing there was no way the jersey could have been ripped loose.

The Nailers, who were already playing with five defenseman, were forced to play with just four for the final 45 minutes of the game.

Guenther's second goal of the period came with just 13.8 seconds remaining on the clock. It was the fourth multi-goal game of the season for Guenther and the third time he scored twice in the same period. He now has 13 on the year.

Reading and Wheeling traded power-play goals in the second period as Chris Bala got his ninth for the Royals and Jordan Cameron recorded his 13th. Cameron upped his goal streak to three games with assists from Collins and Cody Blanshan on a 5-on-3 advantage. It was Blanshan's first point as a Nailer since being traded from Idaho two weeks ago.

Foster tipped in the game winner just 2:41 into the third period as Moren unleashed a wrist shot from along the boards. Foster knocked the puck from waist level up and over the shoulder of Jeff Pietrasiak.

With just over 10 minutes remaining in the game, Moren added his name to the goal column putting a pass from Smyth into the back of the net. Moren brought the puck into the Reading zone and dropped it for Collins. Collins fed it across to Smyth who found Moren just outside the crease.

Andy Franck earned his 10th win of the year by stopping 36 of the 39 shots sent his way. He turned away 17 in the second and another 13 in the third.

The Nailers managed just 7 shots in each of the last two periods after registering 13 in the first.

Wheeling has now taken the last three games from Reading and have now won three of four this year. The series continues on Friday night in Wheeling when the two meet for a 7:30pm start.

Individual and group tickets for all Nailers home games, as well as special ticket pacakages, are on sale now. For ticket information, contact the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL.

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