ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Weekly Recap

Published on February 19, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Player Notes: Jordan Cameron's two goals this week put him at 21 for the season. He joins Joe

Guenther (22) as the only Nailers over twenty goals. Sean Collins is next closest with 15. Paul

Bissonnette scored a shorthanded goal on Friday night. It was the sixth SHG of the season and

Bissonnette leads the team with two.

Team Notes: Wheeling stopped a season-high six game losing streak with their win over

Trenton on Saturday night. The Nailers skated to three consecutive one-goal games for the first

time this season. They had done it in back-to-back games twice (Nov 25-26; Dec 31-Jan 5).

NAILERS WEEK IN REVIEW

February 12-February 19

Friday, February 16 Wheeling 2 @ Trenton 3

The Wheeling Nailers fought back from an early 1-0 deficit only to fall 3-2 to the Trenton Titans Friday night at the

Sovereign Bank Arena. Don Morrison's goal with just 5:23 remaining in the third was the difference as Wheeling

dropped their season-high sixth straight game. After a back-and-forth start to the first period Troy Riddle opened

the scoring for the Titans at 10:38 of the first. With Trenton on the power play Mike Pandolfo fed Riddle through

traffic and caught Andy Franck (28/31) on the wrong side of the net. Wheeling responded in the opening minutes of

the second period with Jordan Cameron's 20th of the season. Sean Collins carried the puck into the zone, on the

power play, but was stripped from behind on his way to the net. It bounced right to Cameron who picked top-shelf

over the glove of Gregg Naumenko (27/29). Joe Guenther regained the Nailers' scoring lead with his 21st of the

season at the 15:15 mark of the second. Again on the man advantage, Collins' slapshot was roofed by the tip of

Guenther to give the Nailers a 2-1 lead. Penalties came back to bite the Nailers when Vin Hellemeyer was called

for elbowing just before the end of the second. Trenton started the third on the power play and converted after just

18 seconds. Mike Pandolfo notched his league leading 36th goal of the season on a one-time pass from

Scott Bertoli. Morrison's one-timer from Jim Henkle was the game winner in just his second ECHL game after

being reassigned by the Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL) earlier in the week. Wheeling was 2 for 6 on the power play while Trenton was 2 for 5.

Saturday, February 17 Wheeling 3 @ Trenton 2

The Wheeling Nailers used a shorthanded goal, an even strength goal and a power-play goal to beat the Trenton Titans 3-2 Saturday night in Trenton. The win was the Nailers first at the Sovereign Bank Arena and it stopped a season-high six game losing streak. Paul Bissonnette opened the scoring with a shorthanded tally 13:37 into the first. After Ryan Moren gained the zone, Bissonnette picked up the rebound but shot it wide of the goal. As he centered the puck from the end boards it ricocheted off Gregg Naumenko's leg pad and into the net. It was Bissonnette's second shorthanded goal of the season. Although the Nailers were outshot 19-9 in the first period, the score was 1-0 Wheeling when it came to a close. The second period remained scoreless thanks to Naumenko's save of Joe Guenther on a penalty shot 6:42 in. Trenton tied the game at one at the 5:23 mark of the third as Scott Bertoli won the faceoff and streaked across the slot for an unassisted goal. Joe Guenther regained the lead for the Nailers with his team-leading 22nd goal of the season. Jon Foster created a turnover inside the Titans' zone and brought the puck to the net. The original shot was saved but Guenther was there to tap in the loose puck. Just 55 seconds later the Nailers increased their lead to two. With Wheeling on the power play, Sean Collins converted a one-timer from Jordan Cameron for his 15th of the year. Guenther was also credited with an assist recording the only multi-point game for the Nailers. The Titans would make it interesting with a Jim Henkle goal at 16:53 of the third but Andy Franck finished off the night with 30 saves.

Sunday, February 18 Wheeling 1 @ Reading 2 SOL

In a game highlighted by outstanding goaltending, the Wheeling Nailers fell to the Reading Royals 2-1 in a shootout Sunday at the Sovereign Center. Wheeling earned a single point in their fifth overtime game of the year and first away from home. After a scoreless first period, in which the Nailers doubled the Royals' shots 12-6, Jon Snowden converted a rebound at 8:40 of the second. Jon Francisco's slapshot from just inside the blue line created a rebound in the slot that found its way onto the stick of Snowden. For the second night in a row, the Nailers were awarded a penalty shot at 14:47 of the middle period. As Wheeling crashed the net with shot after shot on Jeff Pietrasiak the puck sat in the crease. Jason Becker picked the puck up in his hand and threw it to safety. The referee alertly signaled for a penalty shot. With a choice of the five players on the ice to take the shot, Glenn Patrick elected Jordan Cameron. Cameron undressed Pietrasiak and tied the score at one. It was Cameron's 21st goal of the season. Despite plenty of opportunities for both teams it remained tied through regulation and overtime. The first two shooters missed for each team in the shootout. Jon Francisco converted the third shot for the Royals, snapping a streak of 11 straight saves by Andy Franck in shootouts. After Cameron was stopped, Shawn Collymore scored to give Reading the 2-0 advantage. Pietrasiak made the stop on Adam Edinger to end the game.

PREVIEW OF UPCOMING NAILERS GAMES

February 19 - February 26

Friday, February 23 Wheeling vs. Johnstown 7:30p.m.

The Nailers will begin an important two-game set with the Johnstown Chiefs on Friday night. Wheeling will be celebrating college night, admission is free if you wear a toga to the game or show your college ID for a discounted ticket.

Saturday, February 24 Wheeling vs. Johnstown 7:30p.m.

Wheeling and Johnstown continue their series on Saturday for Curtiss Patrick mini-bobblehead night. The first 2,500 fans receive a bobblehead courtesy of Consol Engergy.

Sunday, February 25 Wheeling @ Trenton 4:00p.m.

The Nailers head back to Trenton for a Sunday game with the Titans. They have skated to consecutive 3-2 games, each team winning one.

In the Community: Players from the Nailers will be visiting Union Local Elementary in Moundsville, WV. They will be participating in the "Jump Rope for Heart" school assembly on Tuesday. On Wednesday they will be heading to Central Elementary to play hockey with students after school. On Thursday, they will read to students at Trinity North School and also take part in another Booze & Cruise, You'll Lose program at Weirton Madonna high school.

Power Hour: The Nailers Power Hour will return to the Mix WK 97.3 on Thursday at 6p.m.

In the Crease: The Wheeling Nailers new call-in show will air Tuesday night from 6-6:30pm on WKKX AM 1600. Brendan Burke will be available to take your calls about everything Nailers. Call in at (304) 214-1600 or toll free at 866-514-1600.

On The Air: Catch all 72 Wheeling Nailers regular-season games on the Mix 97.3 or over the internet at www.wheelingnailers.com. "The Voice of the Nailers" Brendan Burke will get things started 15 minutes prior to game time and bring you straight through the final buzzer.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from February 19, 2007


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