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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers See Red Light Six Times on Faith & Family Night

January 9, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers had gone 19 days without playing a home game, and on Friday night, they gave their fans a contest that was well worth the wait. Wheeling dented the twine three times in a span of 1:33 during the second period, erasing a 3-2 deficit to take a 5-3 lead. Chaz Johnson led the way with two goals for the Nailers, who held of a 48-shot attack by the Reading Royals for a 6-5 victory at WesBanco Arena.

Offense was the name of the game in the first period, as the two teams combined for three goals on 34 shots. Reading lit the lamp for the first tally of the evening, doing so at the 4:27 mark of the stanza. Mike Marcou drilled a shot from the right point, which was deflected off of the crossbar by Ian Watters. The rebound dropped into the crease, where it was tapped in by Pat Mullane. Wheeling tied the game 2:04 later. Chaz Johnson dragged the puck to the front of the goal, leading to a pile in search of a rebound. Johnson ended up finding the loose puck, floating it over fallen goaltender Martin Ouellette for his fifth goal in as many games. With 5:49 left in the period, the Royals regained the lead. Matt Hatch had his progress halted on a shorthanded breakaway, leading to a penalty shot, which he converted from the right circle.

The first 12 minutes of the middle frame went by without a goal, but the final eight minutes produced a completely different story. Zack Torquato tied the game for the Nailers, hammering home a power play goal from the center point. Reading answered with Matt Hatch's second of the evening from the left wing wall at the 15:29 mark, putting the visitors back on top for the third time. However, that was the final lead for the Royals, as the Nailers exploded for three goals in 93 seconds, grabbing a 5-3 advantage. Patrick McGrath banked in a shot from the bottom of the left circle for the tying goal, Shawn Skelly blistered in a shot on a rush down the right side for the go-ahead goal, and Chaz Johnson slipped in the rebound of Mike Ratchuk's shot for what was temporarily an insurance marker. Reading pulled within one at the 19:56 mark of the second, when Ian Watters batted in the rebound of Ryan Cruthers' shot on the power play for a 5-4 score after forty minutes.

Both teams lit the lamp once in the final period. Morgan Ellis netted the Wheeling marker, when he picked up a loose puck in the left corner, skated to the circle, and wristed a shot into the top-right corner of the cage. David Marshall registered the final goal of the evening for the Royals, finishing off a cross-ice pass by Adam Hughesman. Reading ended up with 48 shots on goal, but the Nailers held on for the 6-5 triumph.

Franky Palazzese was the winning netminder for Wheeling, turning away 43 of the 48 shots he faced. Martin Ouellette suffered the loss for Reading, allowing six goals on 30 shots.

The Nailers will continue their three-game homestand on Saturday night at 7:35 against the Elmira Jackals.

Elmira is the opposition on January 10th, as the Nailers will be holding a Princess Party from 6-7. Only 100 tickets are available for the party. That game will also be the annual Girl Scout Night. The first 1,000 kids (14 & under) in attendance will receive a backpack, courtesy of H.E. Neumann. The princesses will be available in the main concourse throughout the evening.

Indy pays a visit on January 11th for a Family Funday with $5 kids tickets, a post game skate with the team, and another Oglebay Good Zoo Day.

January 23rd & 24th will be a two-game series at home against Fort Wayne, as the new jumbotron will make its debut. Saturday's game will be Star Wars Night, as well as a bomber hat giveaway to the first 1,000 kids (14 & under) in attendance.

Wheeling Nailers 2014-15 season tickets, flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets are on sale now. For more information, call 304-234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com.

Listen to all Nailers regular season and post-season games live on the Valley's rock station EAGLE 107.5 FM, on www.iheartradio.com or watch live on www.echl.tv. Catch every road game live on WLUTV on Comcast Cable 14.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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