ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Weekly Recap

February 26, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Record for week: 1-1-1-0, 3 points

Record for season: 20-26-2-2, 44 points - Seventh place in Northern Division

Player Notes: Danny Taylor made his Wheeling Nailers debut on Saturday night stopping 20 of

24 shots. Joe Guenther scored two goals in 3:46 during the third period on Saturday. It was the

fastest two goals buy the same player this season. Sean Collins assist on Sunday was his 24th

power-play point and 17th power-play assists of the season.

Team Notes: The Nailers went 1-1-1for the second consecutive week. Four out of the Nailers

last six games have been decided by one goal. In 20 one-goal games the Nailers are 9-7-2-2 in

those games.

NAILERS WEEK IN REVIEW

February 12-February 19

Friday, February 23 Wheeling 1 vs. Johnstown 4

The Nailers out-shot the visiting Chiefs tonight at WesBanco Arena, but they couldn't figure out goalie Morgan Cey

as they fell 4-1. The Nailers got the game's first goal 7:46 of the opening period when Vin Hellemeyer wristed a

shot through traffic and past a screened Cey. Paul Bissonnette and Eric Sonnenberg assisted on the play. That was

the last time the home team would tickle the twine. The Chiefs tied the game with a power-play goal at 9:09 of the

second period when Zbynek Hrdel beat Andy Franck from close range. With exactly four minutes remaining in the

middle frame, Radek Smolenak gave the visitors a 2-1 lead when his shot beat Franck after a scramble in front of the

net. It looked as though the Nailers had tied the game with less than a minute remaining, but the goal was waived

off after the referees ruled that a hand pass had occurred prior to the puck crossing the line. The period ended with

the Nailers trailing 2-1. The two teams played the third period to a stalemate until, with 2:44 remaining, former

Nailer Dmitri Tarabrin flew down the right wing and blasted a slap shot past Franck to put the Chiefs up by two.

Jean Desrochers put the game out of reach when he scored on an empty Nailers net for the Chiefs' fourth and final

goal.

Saturday, February 24 Wheeling 3 vs. Johnstown 4 OT

The Nailers, desperately needing two points to stay within striking distance of a playoff spot, lost 4-3 in overtime to the Johnstown Chiefs tonight at WesBanco Arena. The two teams played an even first period, trading several power play opportunities, but both goalies made several key saves to keep the game scoreless heading into the intermission. The Nailers got the game's first goal late in the second, seconds after having a goal waived off. They also had a goal waived off in the first. Over the weekend the Nailers had three goals waived off by Referee Nick Suhy. Paul Bissonnette notched his eighth goal of the year when he beat Morgan Cey with a slap-shot from the left circle at

13:43 of the second to give the home team a 1-0 lead. Sean Collins had the only assist. The Chiefs tied the game at one with 31 seconds remaining in the middle frame. Grant Jacobsen was able to force a puck under the pads of Danny Taylor after a scramble in front of the net. Johnstown took the lead for the first time at 4:47 of the third period. Stanislav Lascek gathered a loose puck in the slot and fired a wrist shot through the five-hole of Taylor to make the game 2-1. Wheeling tied the game at two with 3:56 to go in the game with a power-play goal. Paul Bissonnette wristed a shot towards the net and Joe Guenther deflected it past Cey. Jordan Cameron was credited with the secondary assist. It looked as though Johnstown had iced the game when Ben Wallace beat Taylor with 40 seconds left to give the Chiefs a 3-2 lead, but Joe Guenther responded for the Nailers just 30 seconds later with his th goal of the year, tying the game at three with ten ticks on the clock. But after a controversial tripping call against Jordan Cameron in the overtime period, Stanislav Lascek scored the game winning power-play goal at 2:53 of the period giving the Chiefs the win.

Sunday, February 25 Wheeling 3 @ Trenton 0

Andy Franck's third shutout of the season earned the Wheeling Nailers a 3-0 win over the Trenton Titans Sunday at the Sovereign Bank Arena. It marks the twentieth win of the season for Wheeling who are now 4-3-1 against Trenton this year. The Nailers opened the scoring just 6:34 into the first period when Jon Foster's deflected shot fluttered over the shoulder of Joel Martin. Adam Edinger setup Foster in the slot for his ninth goal of the year. That was the only goal the Nailers registered in the first period despite outshooting the Titans 20-5. It wasn't until the closing minutes of the second that Wheeling scored again. With 2:21 remaining, Rich Colwill buried a shorthanded breakaway to give the Nailers some insurance. Joe Guenther forced, former Nailers, Luis Tremblay right into Colwill who took the puck in alone on Martin. It marked just the Nailers seventh shorthanded goal of the season. Pierre-Luc Leblonde was called for tripping at 18:32 of the second and Ryan Moren capitalized with his fifth power-play goal. Jordan Cameron fed Sean Collins in the corner who promptly made his way to the net. After faking a shot he slid it on the backhand to Moren crashing in from the point. Franck took care of the rest stopping 11 shots in the third and all 25 in total for his first shutout since January 7 against Reading.

PREVIEW OF UPCOMING NAILERS GAMES

February 26 - March 5

Wednesday, February 28 Wheeling @ Toledo 7:050p.m.

The Nailers head to the Toledo Sports Arena for just the second time this season on Wednesday night. Wheeling fell 4-3 on December 9 in their only other trip to visit the Storm.

Friday, March 2 Wheeling vs. Dayton 7:30p.m.

Wheeling returns to WesBanco Arena for a Friday night tilt with the Dayton Bombers. The first 2,500 fans will receive collectors' puck #3 featuring Sean Collins and Jordan Cameron. The puck also is good for one free appetizer from Generations Pub.

Saturday, March 3 Wheeling vs. Johnstown 7:30p.m.

The Nailers square off with the Johnstown Chiefs for the third time in nine days on Saturday night. It is all part of Faith and Family Night at the arena that will feature a postgame concert from Christian band New Method.

Sunday, March 4 Wheeling vs. Reading 6:00p.m.

Sunday Family Fun-Day returns to WesBanco Arena with Mascot Mania. The Nailers and Royals faceoff at 6 while Spike and Buck will have plenty of mascot friends to play with. Stay after the game to skate with some of your favorite Nailers players.

In the Community: Players from the Nailers will be visiting Bellaire Elementary School on Thursday, March 1.

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



ECHL Stories from February 26, 2007


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