Nailers Remain Tied for Fifth, Despite Tough Road Trip
March 26, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
KALAMAZOO, MI - For most of March, the Wheeling Nailers experienced smooth sailing, as they picked up points in each of their first 11 games. Unfortunately, the last two didn't go as planned, as the Kalamazoo Wings kept themselves in the race for the Kelly Cup Playoffs, winning all four of their games this week. After defeating the Nailers 6-4 on Friday, the Wings flew out to a 4-0 lead in the first period, and carried it to a 5-1 victory at Wings Event Center.
The Nailers were hoping for a do-over after the first period, as they found themselves trailing by a significant margin. Kalamazoo picked up where it left off the night before, opening the scoring just 1:18 into the contest. Anton Cederholm took a wrist shot from the left point, which was redirected into the cage by Lane Scheidl. A little more than five minutes later, the home team upped its lead to two. Ludwig Blomstrand wristed in a shot from the right circle, which was unintentionall tipped in by a Wheeling stick. 2:23 after that, the deficit became three, when Blomstrand's shot from the right wall found its way in. The last goal of the stanza came with less then five seconds left, when Eric Kattelus banked a shot off of Brian Foster and into the cage. Foster had taken over for JP Anderson after Blomstrand's second goal.
The game slowed down drastically after that, as neither side lit the lamp during the second period. Wheeling eventually cracked through with its first tally of the night at the 6:30 mark of the third period. James Melindy chased down a loose puck in the left corner of his own zone, before zipping a pass through neutral ice for Riley Brace. Brace made his way to the left circle, before squeezing a shot through Joel Martin for his team-leading 25th tally of the year. Justin Taylor responded with a left circle goal of his own with 9:27 remaining for the Wings, giving the game a 5-1 final score.
Joel Martin had a busy night in net for Kalamazoo, as he earned the victory with 42 saves on 43 shots. JP Anderson suffered the loss, allowing three goals on 11 shots, before giving way to Brian Foster, who was 23-for-25 in relief.
The Nailers will return home for two games on Friday and Saturday. April 1st is Duck Dynasty Night Starring Si Robertson, in addition to Biker Night Presented by Harley Davidson. The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders will be at the game on April 2nd, sponsored by Miller Lite.
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