Nailers Rally with Overtime Win to Force Game Seven
May 23, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Wheeling Nailers Celebrate Overtime Win
(Wheeling Nailers)
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC- Wheeling Nailers fans have read this story before - Wheeling comes back to win yet again. The Nailers fell behind the South Carolina Stingrays 2-0 in the first period of game six, but rallied back and ultimately forced overtime with a 3-3 deadlock. For the second time in the Eastern Conference Final, Jarrett Burton rose up as the hero, as he buried a shot from the right side of the slot, giving Wheeling a 4-3 triumph, forcing game seven on Tuesday night.
The Stingrays took little time to get on the scoreboard, and they got the first goal with a lucky bounce. Wade Epp's left point shot hit off of Stephan Vigier, who was creating havoc in front of the net. Vigier got the puck on his stick, which he shoveled over to Kelly Zajac for an easy tap-in. South Carolina added to its lead less than five minutes later. Joe Devin intercepted a pass on the right side of the offensive zone, then proceeded to feed Stephan Vigier, who hammered in a shot from the left side of the slot. The Nailers pulled within a goal during the last ten minutes of the stanza with a power play marker. Anton Zlobin let a wrist shot go from the blueline, which deflected off of a stick, then the right post, as it rolled over the goal line.
Wheeling got the equalizer at the 11:58 mark of the second period. South Carolina struggled to get the puck out of its zone after a face-off, and Cody Wydo made an interception, setting up John McCarron, who made his way behind the defense. McCarron took the puck from his forehand to his backhand, flipping a shot over Vitek Vanecek's right shoulder.
Both sides found the back of the net in the third period, forcing the tilt into overtime. The Nailers took their first lead of the night at the 4:50 mark, cashing in with their second power play tally. Derek Army took the puck out of the left corner, and waited patiently, as Anton Zlobin jumped into the play. The pass was tape-to-tape, and Zlobin put his shot into the top-right corner. The Stingrays tied the score 2:59 later. David Pacan took a shot from high in the slot, which was redirected by Caleb Herbert just enough to squeak into the net.
Overtime lasted for quite a while, and featured a pair of successful penalty kills by Wheeling, before a familiar name rose to the occasion for the second time in the series. Riley Brace broke up a rush in center ice, leading Jarrett Burton into the zone. With Derek Army going to the net, Burton took advantage of extra space, and proceeded to lift a wrist shot over Vanecek's left shoulder for the 4-3 victory.
Brian Foster was the winning goaltender for Wheeling, as he made 31 saves on 34 shots. Vitek Vanecek took the overtime loss for South Carolina, coming up with 30 stops on 34 attempts.
The Nailers and Stingrays will decide their series on Tuesday, when they play game seven at 7:05 in South Carolina.
Images from this story
 Wheeling Nailers Celebrate Overtime Win |
ECHL Stories from May 23, 2016
- Nailers Force Decisive Game 7 Tuesday Night at North Charleston Coliseum - South Carolina Stingrays
- Nailers Rally with Overtime Win to Force Game Seven - Wheeling Nailers
- Nailers Mourn Passing of Former Coach John Brophy - Wheeling Nailers
- ECHL Transactions - May 23 - ECHL
- Nailers at Stingrays Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- Eastern Conference Finals: Games 6 Preview- Wheeling at South Carolina, 7:05 p.m. - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Mourns Loss of Former Coach and Hall of Famer John Brophy - ECHL
- ECHL Today - May 23 - ECHL
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