Nailers Win Wild One in Wheeling
January 13, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
WHEELING, WV - Curtis Darling propelled the Wheeling Nailers (13-20-2-2=30) to their fourth consecutive win on Sunday by making 43 saves against the Trenton Devils (14-19-1-2=31) at WesBanco Arena. Darling is now 2-0-0 since joining Wheeling in a trade with the Charlotte Checkers on Jan. 2 and the team is 4-0-1 under the direction of Greg Puhalski.
The first period saw a combined 23 shots on goal but both Darling and Jason Smith stood tall keeping the game scoreless through the first 20 minutes of play. The game's first goal didn't come until 9:47 of the second period when Kevin Croxton scored for the third straight game. With Wheeling on the power play, David Laliberte fed Croxton in the slot and he beat Smith with a low wrist shot for his 13th goal of the season.
Stephen Wood tied the game at 14:13 with a wrist shot of his own with assists credited to Eric Castonguay and Ryan Gunderson.
Within two minutes the Nailers had regained the lead. Justin Chwedoruk led the charge for Wheeling, breaking into the Devils zone on a three-on-two. Instead of sliding the puck back to Kelly Miller, he fired a shot into the net for his 10th tally of the year at 16:04.
Trenton responded immediately tying the game 23 seconds later. With a delayed penalty against the Nailers, Colin Pepperall was able to tip a Zach Tarkir point-shot past Darling to even the score, 2-2.
More back-and-forth action transpired in the third period, including 23 total shots but just one goal. The game winner came on a slapshot from newcomer Matt Johnson, who scored for the second night in a row. From just inside the Trenton blue line, Johnson let a shot go that ramped off the stick of Smith and into the net.
The final five minutes of the game featured a frenzy of scoring opportunities, 48 penalty minutes and two ejections for the Trenton Devils. Pepperall and head coach Craig Kowalski were sent to the dressing room for arguing penalties at 15:54 and 16:51 respectively. The two teams will meet up again on Tuesday evening in Wheeling.
It will be "Union Night" for the rematch on Tuesday at 7:05pm. Showing your union card will allow you to purchase a ticket for only $8. Plus the concession stands will be serving $1 beers until the end of the first intermission. Call 304-234-GOAL or visit www.wheelingnailers.com for ticketing information.
ECHL Stories from January 13, 2008
- Lynx snap SeaWolves streak with 4-1 win on Saturday - Augusta Lynx
- Nailers Win Wild One in Wheeling - Wheeling Nailers
- Falcons Crush RoadRunners 6-0 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Falcons Roll Past RoadRunners for Sixth Straight Win - Fresno Falcons
- Boosted Royals Bounce Back With Win Over Cincinnati, 5-3 - Reading Royals
- Wildcatters Record Streak Ends With 4-2 Loss to Stingrays - Texas Wildcatters
- Nailers Squeak By Devils 3-2 - Trenton Devils
- Stingrays Take Rubber Game, Snap Wildcatter's Streak 4-2 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Falcons Make Historic Visit to Yosemite on Monday - Fresno Falcons
- Cyclones Lose In Reading, 5-3 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Salmon Kings Rahimi Moves Up To The Moose - Victoria Salmon Kings
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Condors Acquire Explosive Rookie Boudreau from Reading - Bakersfield Condors
- Monarchs Assign Three To Reading - Reading Royals
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Steelheads Power Play Explodes In 4-1 Win Versus Grizzlies - Idaho Steelheads
- Aces double up Thunder, 4-2 - Alaska Aces
- Condors stop RoadRunners in their tracks, 3-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Thunder drops finale of three-game series - Stockton Thunder
- Salmon Kings Earn A Split In Sin City - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Wildcatters Score Early And Often, Beat Stingrays 4-2 - Texas Wildcatters
- Condors Slip Past RoadRunners 3-2 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Royals Comeback Efforts Fall Short In Loss To Johnstown, 5-3 - Reading Royals
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