Nailers Win Game Seven in Overtime, 4-3
May 11, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Wheeling Nailers Celebrate Game Seven Win
(Wheeling Nailers)
WHEELING, WV - The Wheeling Nailers played their first ever game seven at WesBanco Arena on Wednesday night, and although the game went past the normal 60-minute mark, the crowd of 3,341 will have a memory that will last a lifetime. With 37.1 seconds left in overtime, Riley Brace dragged a puck out of a scrum in front of the goal, and tucked it into the net, giving the Nailers a 4-3 win over the Reading Royals to win the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series, 4-3.
Three big moments occurred during the first period, resulting in a save, a goal waved off, and a good goal. The save came from Brian Foster, who robbed Adam Comrie with the left pad on a shot from the right side of the slot. The non-goal went against the Nailers. While working on the man advantage, Wheeling got the puck to Riley Brace, who deposited a shot into the right side of the cage. However, as the shot was being taken, John McCarron was whistled for a slash. Reading took advantage of the dodged bullet, opening the scoring with 1:44 left. Comrie blitzed in a slap shot from the top of the left circle.
The visitors added to their lead in the second period, before the Nailers battled back to even the score. The second Royals goal came from Austin Farley, who finished serving a minor penalty, then batted in a cross-slot pass by Kevin Goumas out of the left corner. Wheeling began to come back with 8:34 remaining. Brian Foster launched a pass ahead to Jordan Kwas, who got a step on the defense, and slid a shot in along the ice. The equalizer came 6:11 later, and it was created by Kwas, who fed Ty Loney entering on the right side of the offensive zone. Loney's attempt was blocked, but Shane Bakker swatted in the rebound.
Even though the red light came on, the third period was unable to settle a winner. The Nailers took their first lead of the evening at the 9:13 mark, while on the power play. Derek Army took a Kwas pass, and squirted in a wrist shot from the right circle. Reading tied the contest with 1:50 remaining. Austin Farley swept a pass to Yannick Tifu in the bottom of the left circle. Tifu gathered the feed, and roofed a shot, before the defense and goaltending could get over.
For the amount of chances that the teams took, overtime lasted surprisingly long, as the two sides combined for 19 shots. The 19th and final shot came at the 19:22 mark, sending the Nailers into the Eastern Conference Final. Riley Brace crashed the net, and after a hard battle in the low slot, ultimately fished out a loose puck, burying it for the series winning tally.
Brian Foster was the winning netminder for Wheeling, as he made 33 saves on 36 shots. Martin Ouellette suffered his third loss of the series for Reading, despite turning aside 51 of 55 shots.
The Nailers will face the South Carolina Stingrays in round three of the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs, which will begin on Friday and Saturday at North Charleston Coliseum. Wheeling's three home games will take place on May 18th at 7:05, May 20th at 7:35, and May 21st at 7:35 (if necessary).
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 Wheeling Nailers Celebrate Game Seven Win |
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