Newcomer Mather Scores Twice To Lift Bullies Over Nailers 5-2

March 17, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies News Release


Wheeling, WV – Shawn Mather tallied a pair of goals in his Bullies debut and the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies used a three-goal third period to defeat the Wheeling Nailers 5-2 before 2448 at WesBanco Arena in ECHL action Thursday. Atlantic City finishes their season-long five-game road trip with a record of 4-1.

Mather opened the scoring in his first shift with Atlantic City (35-19-8). Mather swatted J-F Plourde's bouncing rebound past the stick side of Wheeling goaltender Andy Chiodo at 2:15 of the first period to give the Bullies a 1-0 lead. Wheeling (35-22-4 countered with the equalizer 2:18 seconds after the Mather goal. Stefan Brannare was credited with the tally after referee Nygel Pelletier ruled that Wheeling had pushed the puck through Bullies goaltender Trevor Koenig before the net was pushed off its pegs by an oncoming rush of three Nailers at 5:33 of the period to tie the game at 1-1.

Dave Reid regained the lead for Atlantic City at 5:58 of the second period on the power play, beating goaltender Joe Exter who came on in relief of an injured Chiodo at the start of the period with a shot from the right-wing circle for a 2-1 advantage. However, the Nailers came back again to net the equalizer when Ed McGrane angled out to the left-wing circle and fired a backhand shot that trickled off Koenig's pads and into the net at 14:30 to tie the game at 2-2.

Reid registered his second goal of the game and it proved to be the game-winner when he collected the loose puck in the high slot and ripped a slap shot over the right shoulder of Exter at 3:28 of the third period to give the Bullies a 3-2 edge. Mather made it 4-2 with his second tally of the night, a power play goal from the right point at 7:52 of the period. Plourde sealed the victory with an empty-net goal at 19:20.

Atlantic City out-shot Wheeling 39-26. Koenig stopped 24 shots to improve to 22-10-4 on the season. The Bullies went 2-6 on the power play.

Atlantic City returns to Historic Boardwalk Hall on Friday and Saturday for "Beach Weekend." The Bullies host the Peoria Rivermen at 7:05PM Friday and the Reading Royals at 7:05PM Saturday. For each game, the Bullies will wear beach-themed jerseys sponsored by the Atlantic City Booster Club. The game-worn jerseys will be available for purchase through a silent auction beginning on Friday and lasting until the start of the third period on Saturday. Proceeds from the auction will benefit various charities in South Jersey. For more information or to order tickets, call (609) 348-PUCK.



ECHL Stories from March 17, 2005


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