ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers, Royals Split Weekend Series

January 27, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


The Nailers took charge to start the first period, charging into the Royals' end. Jordon Southorn put a shot on goal and was blocked by goaltender Michael Hutchinson. Peter Lenes picked up the rebound, but his shot went wide of the goal. Hutchinson made another save on Zack Torquato, and the crossbar stopped Brian Day, before Mickael Bedard was called for holding. Thirty seconds into Bedard's penalty, Paul Crowder joined him in the box for high-sticking. The Nailers killed both penalties, but the Royals struck first, as Matt Schepke scored his eighth goal of the season on a wrist-shot from the left circle, after a nifty play at the blueline by Casey Haines. Wheeling earned their first power play opportunity of the night at 16:21. Chris Barton tied the game, as his one-timer from the slot sailed past Hutchinson. Crowder and Southorn picked up assists on the goal.

Reading wasted little time pulling ahead by one. Ray Macias picked up a rebound in the right side of the crease, and knocked the puck behind Peter Delmas just under three minutes into the second period. Yannick Tifu and Todd Griffith, two players who play well against Wheeling, picked up assists on the goal. Southorn put the Nailers back on the penalty kill, but the Royals' power play was unable to convert. Lenes tipped in his 14th of the season shortly after the power play expired, off of a shot by recent Wilkes-Barre re-assignment Nick Petersen, with help from Andrew Hotham. Cody Chupp tried to give the Nailers the go-ahead goal off the face-off with just under ten minutes to go in the period, but Hutchinson made a quick glove save.

Wheeling started the pressure early in the third period, spending much of the first two minutes in the offensive zone. Hutchinson stood strong for Reading, as he stopped three good shots early on. Petersen had another chance with 15:49 left in the period. After the save that drew a whistle, Reading's Ryan Button and Wheeling's Ryan Schnell were both sent to the penalty box, with matching roughing penalties for two minutes of 4-on-4 action. Haines gave Reading another lead at 9:58. After fanning on the initial shot, Schepke notched his second point of the night, while Dale Mitchell was credited with the second assist. Schnell racked up 14 minutes in penalties for spearing Olivier Labelle, sending the Nailers on a four-minute penalty kill, and Schnell to the locker room with a ten-minute misconduct. With 1:54 left in the Nailers' penalty kill, Kenny Ryan was assessed a roughing penalty, negating the rest of the Schnell penalty. The Nailers called their timeout with 1:51 left and pulled Delmas for the extra attacker. Everett Sheen sent the puck down the ice and despite a solid effort, Barton was unable to beat the puck back, giving the Royals their final goal in a 4-2 win.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from January 27, 2012


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