ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers, Wings Split First Two Games

Published on April 4, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


For the second game in a row, the team that won the third period won the hockey game, as the Wheeling Nailers and Kalamazoo Wings clashed in game two of their best-of-five first round series. After the Nailers took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission, the Wings scored three unanswered goals, including two on the power play, coming back to defeat Wheeling 4-2, tying the series at one.

The Nailers started off with the game's first four shots on goal, and seemed to have an early edge. Kalamazoo's first shot was a challenge for Nailers' netminder Patrick Killeen, as Prab Rai came in, and fired a heavy slap shot up high that was gloved. Wheeling had several chances in the first, but none better than Chris Barton's penalty shot, midway through, after he was slashed on a breakaway. Barton came in and fired the shot past Wings netminder Riley Gill, and off the pipe. The game remained scoreless, until Kory Karlander jammed the puck past Killeen at the side of the net, to give Kalamazoo a 1-0 lead. The goal came at 13:33 of the first, and was assisted by Nick Sirota and Harry Young. The Nailers outshot the Wings 11-6 in the first, but headed to the second trailing 1-0.

Wheeling came out with an early edge again to start the second, as Philip Samuelsson took a shot from the point that bounced off the ice, and up over the Gill's glove to tie the game at one. The goal came at 1:05 of the second, and was assisted by Cody Chupp and Paul Crowder. The Nailers headed to the power play, after Kalamazoo's Mike Matczak got called for a trip at 1:45. Despite moving the puck well, and creating several chances with the man advantage, the Nailers failed to convert. Wheeling headed back to the power play, after Wes O'Neill was called for holding at 5:28. The intensity picked up, as Killeen and Sirota picked up matching slashing minors, before the Wings killed the penalty. Kyle Bushee was then called for tripping at 9:38, to give the Wings; power play a chance to work. The Nailers worked hard to kill the penalty, as Barton blocked a shot just as Bushee returned to the ice. With 4:46 remaining in the frame, Paul Crowder battled hard to free the puck behind the goal, and found Andrew Hotham at the point, who held the puck, and then fired a low wrist shot past Gill, to give Wheeling a 2-1 lead. Wheeling held a 24-16 advantage in shots on goal after two, as the Nailers headed to the third leading the Wings 2-1.

Kalamazoo came out strong to start the third period, and Killeen stood tall early. The Wheeling goaltender took an interference minor at 3:01, and 26 seconds later, Mike Matczak evened the score at two with a wrist shot from the point, assisted by Eric Kattelus and Sirota. The Nailers' Christiaan Minella followed with a great chance down low, but was stopped by Gill. Dwight Helminen gave Kalamazoo a 3-2 lead on his wrister from the top of the left circle at 8:59, with assists from Trent Daavettila and Sam Ftorek. Killeen kept the Nailers within one, until Barton was called for high sticking at 12:58. Ftorek blasted a one-timer past Killeen on the power play, to give the Wings a 4-2 lead at 14:02, assisted by Helminen and Daavettila. The Nailers pulled Killeen late in the game for an extra attacker, but could not find the back of the net, as the Wings evened the series at one a piece, with a 4-2 victory. The Nailers out shot Kalamazoo 31-25 in the game.

Patrick Killeen stopped 21 of 25 in the loss for Wheeling, as Riley Gill turned away 29 of 31 in the victory by the Wings.

The series moves to Kalamazoo Friday night with a 7:30 face-off, as the Nailers try to regain the lead in the series. Game four is also in Kalamazoo on Saturday night, as well as game five on Monday, if necessary.

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