Nailers Pull a Rabbit out of a Hat with Four-Goal Third
February 26, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Wheeling Nailers Defend against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits
(Wheeling Nailers)
WHEELING, WV- Two huge points were on the line on Friday night, as the Wheeling Nailers battled the team tied with them in the standings - the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. The score was deadlocked 1-1 after two periods, but in the third, the Nailers charged ahead with authority. Chris Ciotti, Mathew Maione, Brett Stern, and Riley Brace lit the lamp in the third period, and Brian Foster made the score stand up with 27 saves, as the Nailers bounced Greenville, 5-1.
The first period gave the two teams a chance to feel each other out in the lone head-to-head meeting of the season, with both clubs directing seven shots on net. One of those attempts went in for Greenville, who took the lead thanks to an unlucky bounce against the Nailers. Kodie Curran let a harmless looking wrist shot go from the left point. However, the shot tipped off of a Wheeling defender, bouncing down to the ice and into the goal.
The middle frame featured more offensive chances, as the two squads combined to send 24 pucks toward the respective cages. Wheeling came up with the equalizer early on, doing so with a marker on the power play. Mathew Maione took a wrist shot from the middle of the blueline, which was redirected into the net by Adam Krause for his third goal in two games. Maione's helper raised his season point total to 37, while Riley Brace notched his 11th point in seven contests since returning from the AHL.
While the first two stanzas left the end result in doubt, the Nailers stormed ahead in the third period, scoring four times, while never looking back. The first marker came at the 1:40 mark. Andrew Cerretani's shot bounced off of a body and the left post, before resting on the goal line, where it was jammed in by Chris Ciotti. A little more than five minutes later, Ciotti was involved with an insurance goal, as he fed Mathew Maione for a one-timer from the left side of the slot, which Maione drilled into the right side of the net. With 4:13 left, the home team continued their offensive explosion, as Brett Stern stepped into a slap shot from the left point. Riley Brace completed the scoring in the 5-1 victory with 1:22 to go, as he took a Cody Wydo feed and slipped a backhand under Mackenzie Skapski. The assist gave Wydo points in seven straight tilts.
Brian Foster turned in a great performance in goal, earning the win for Wheeling, as he stopped 27 of the 28 shots he faced, including a save on a shorthanded breakaway by Josh Nicholls in the second. Mackenzie Skapski was the losing netminder for Greenville, as he let in five goals on 37 shots.
The Nailers will continue their three-game homestand on Saturday night at 7:35, when they take on the Elmira Jackals. The promotion is Disney Night, starring Corey Fogelmanis - also known as "Farkle" from Girl Meets World. It is also the annual Pink in the Rink Game, and Nailers Uncorked (wine tasting event) will get started at 6:30. The two teams will also clash the following day at 4:05 on a Family Funday with McDonald's $5 Kids Tickets and a Post Game Skate With the Team.
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 Wheeling Nailers Defend against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits |
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