ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers score season-high seven

Published on January 11, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


READING, PA - The Wheeling Nailers scored a season-high seven goals in beating the Reading Royals 7-4 Friday night at the Sovereign Center. Kevin Croxton, Sean Collins and Aaron Boogaard all recorded multi-point games as Wheeling chased goaltender Jonathan Quick from the net during the second period.

The Nailers captured one of their best starts of the year by scoring twice in the first seven minutes of action. Croxton opened the scoring a mere 15 seconds into the first period, burying a two-on-one with Aaron Clarke. Just over six minutes later, with the teams playing four-aside, Seamus Young wristed one past Quick and into the net. Collins along with Chris Brooks earned assists on Young's fourth of the season.

Momentum shifted as quickly as it was gained with Reading answering back to tie the game before the end of the first. Both goals came on the power play with assists from Brock Hooton and Dany Roussin. At 12:53, PJ Atherton's shot from the point, deflected off a skate and fluttered up over the shoulder of Martin Houle. Then at 16:37, Matt Herneisen slammed home a rebound for his third of the year.

Reading completed the comeback by taking their only lead of the game 3:33 into the second period. With the Royals on a 5-on-3 advantage, Roussin and Charlie Kronschnabel set up Mike Salekin for a one-time blast that put Reading up 3-2.

The captain responded with his third goal in the last two games just 1:20 later. Off a turnover, Collins loaded up a wrist shot and beat Quick on the glove side for his seventh of the year.

Boogaard sent Quick to the bench at 14:12 with his fifth goal of the season. He crossed the blue line and let a wrist shot fly over the blocker of Quick. In both of Quick's starts this season against the Nailers he has been pulled before the end of the second period. Former Nailer Terry Denike finished the game for Reading.

After only 4:25 in the net the Nailers had gotten to Denike as well. Justin Chwedoruk broke into the Royals zone and passed around the back of the net before stepping out in front for a shot. His shot deflected off a body in front and between the legs of Denike for the goal.

With Wheeling ahead 5-3 entering the third period, the Royals scored the next goal to make it interesting in the final minutes. Hooton scored at 12:05 to cut Wheeling's lead to 5-4.

The Nailers pulled away with two goals in the final 1:56 of regulation. B.J. Radovich scored in his first game as a member of the Nailers on a feed from Vadim Slivchenko. Croxton sealed the deal with the Nailers first empty-net goal of the season at 19:47.

Houle stopped 30 shots to pick up his third game of the season while Quick allowed four goals on 17 shots and Denike made 10 saves on 12 shots. Wheeling was 0-for-3 on the power play while Reading was 3-for-8.

The Dayton Bombers will be in Wheeling on Saturday for a game at 7:35pm. The first 2,500 fans in attendance will be given a Joe Zelek mini-bobblehead. After the game there will be a concert from the Joe Zelek Band. Call 304-234-GOAL or visit www.wheelingnailers.com for ticketing information.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from January 11, 2008


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