Nailers slip on home ice against Royals
December 2, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
WHEELING, WV - The Wheeling Nailers lost, for the first time in regulation at home since October 26, 5-3 against the Reading Royals Sunday evening at WesBanco Arena. They are now 6-2-1 at home on the season.
The Reading Royals jumped out to the early lead with Dany Roussin's first goal of the season just 2:12 after the opening faceoff. Ned Lukacevic set up Roussin at the bottom of the faceoff circle for the one-timer and a power-play goal.
Wheeling responded with a goal at 12:56 of the period to tie it at one. Jeremey Swanson's shot from the blue line snuck through former Nailer Danny Taylor for Swanson's first of the year. Kyle Rank and Curtiss Patrick were credited with assists on the play.
Brett Hemingway took over from there. While the public address announcer was still reading Swanson's goal, Hemmigway notched his first of two. Just 19 seconds following the Nailers goal, his shot from the slot slipped past David Brown.
The lead increased to 3-1 with 1:22 left in the first as Hemmingway's wrist shot crept through the legs of Brown.
The end of the period did not mean the end of the Royals scoring. Joe Zappala snuck behind the Nailer defense and broke in on a breakaway against Brown. His initial shot was stopped but he corralled his own rebound into the net at 2:07 of the second to put the Royals up 4-1. That prompted a goalie switch for the Nailers.
Brown exited after four goals on 14 shots in 22:07 of work and was replaced by Martin Houle. A new goalie was greeted with a similar result as the first shot on Houle got behind him for a goal. Mark Cavosie fluttered a wrist shot past Houle that caught the post and banked into the goal just 53 seconds after he entered the game.
The Nailers settled down after that but couldn't generate enough offense to overcome the 5-1 lead. Wheeling added two power-play goals before the end of the game. The first one came at 13:08 of the second with Kevin Croxton's fifth goal of the season. Aaron Clarke touched a pass of the Croxton who converted for the goal.
With the Nailers trailing 5-2 and on a 4-on-3 advantage in the opening five minutes of the third period, Curtiss Patrick found Seamus Young for his third goal of the year. Patrick had room to shoot in front and waited for Taylor to go down before sliding it across to Young parked at the top of the crease.
Houle stopped 18-of-19 in his 35:23 of work, after being pulled late in the game in favor of the extra attacker. Taylor notched his first win of the season by stopping 33 shots. The Nailers were 2-for-9 on the power play while Reading was 1-for-6.
Wheeling hits the road for a rematch on Wednesday with the Royals at 6:35p.m. Their road trip continues to Dayton on Friday at 7p.m. and back to Reading for Saturday at 7:05p.m. before returning home on Sunday to meet up with the Elmira Jackals. The game will begin at 6:05p.m. and fans are invited to skate with the team after the game.
Kids tickets through the month of December are just $5. Call 304-234-GOAL or visit www.wheelingnailers.com for more information.
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