ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Orpik's Overtime Goal Lifts Nailers To 1-0 Series Lead

Published on April 5, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


CHARLESTON, SC - Andrew Orpik's goal at 5:50 into overtime sealed a 4-3 victory for the Wheeling Nailers over the South Carolina Stingrays in game one of the Quarterfinal matchup at the North Charleston Coliseum Tuesday evening. The win gives the Nailers 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Wheeling stung the Rays early, as Joey Haddad lifted his club to a 2-0 lead in the game's first five minutes. Haddad tipped in a Zach Hansen shot from the point on the power play to give the Nailers a 1-0 lead. Nearly three minutes later, Haddad stole the puck on a turnover, and broke into the zone on a breakaway. Haddad deked and lifted a backhand shot past the glove of Stingrays goaltender Todd Ford to give Wheeling a 2-0 lead.

South Carolina slowed the Nailers momentum moments after a power play. Derek Keller's shot from the point bounced off the pads of Delmas, and the rebound was shoved into the net by Trent Campbell to put the Stingrays on board 2-1. Both teams created some great chances late in the first, but both goaltender came up with big saves to keep the score 2-1 after the first period.

The Nailers took their second two goal lead of the game when Tim Crowder dropped a pass up high to Alex Grant, who stepped into a slapshot and ripped the puck past Ford for the goal, to make the score 3-1 in favor of Wheeling. The Stingrays answered on a goal by captain Matt Scherer at seven minutes into the second. Scherer broke into the slot and wristed a shot off the block of Delmas and in, to pull the Rays within one.

Nearly three minutes later, South Carolina as Campbell received a pass low at the shortside post, and slipped the puck on the backside of Delmas to tie the game at three heading into the second break.

The Nailers didn't allow a single Stingrays shot for the first 11 minutes of the third. However, both teams flirted with taking the lead in the final minutes of regulation, but again both Ford and Delmas each came up with the clutch saves to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, Andrew Orpik lobbed the puck out of his own end, all the way down the ice. The puck bounced in front of the goaltender Ford, who misplayed the bounce, and the puck trickled into the net for the game winning goal. The fortuitous bounce, gives the Nailers a 1-0 lead in the quarterfinal series.

The two teams meet again tomorrow for game two of the series at the North Charleston Colisem.. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. Fans may tune in to The Mix 97.3, www.wheelingnailers.com, or watch the game on RTV9. Wheeling will host game three on Friday April 8 at WesBanco Arena beginning at 7:35 p.m. The following is a complete schedule of games for the first round series:

#4 Wheeling Nailers vs. #5 South Carolina Stingrays (Best of Five Series) AWAY: Wheeling -4 at South Carolina -3 OT- Tuesday, April 5 AWAY: Wheeling at South Carolina - Wednesday, April 6 @ 7:00 PM HOME: South Carolina at Wheeling - Friday, April 8 @ 7:35 PM HOME: South Carolina at Wheeling -Saturday, April 9 @ 7:35 PM** HOME: South Carolina at Wheeling - Monday, April 11 @ 7:05 PM** ** If necessary

For Tickets: To purchase playoff tickets, or playoff ticket packages, call the Nailers office at (304) 234-GOAL, or (304) 234-4625 to speak to a ticket representative.You may receive discounted tickets rates by participating in one of our group ticket packages

Individual tickets are on sale now through The Wheeling Nailers Office, Ticketmaster and the WesBanco Arena Box Office. Office hours are Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For Weekend game days, the office opens four hours before game time. For more information on ticket packages call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL or online at www.wheelingnailers.com.

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