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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Solar Bears Snap Wheeling's Home Winning Streak

November 14, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, WV- The Orlando Solar Bears were playing their third game in four nights, when they visited the Wheeling Nailers on Friday at WesBanco Arena. However, it was Orlando who turned the tables on Wheeling, erasing a 3-1 deficit for a 6-3 victory, dealing the Nailers their first home setback of 2014-15. Riley Brace (5) and Matia Marcantuoni (4) both extended their point streaks in the defeat.

The Nailers took less than a minute to open the scoring, finding the back of the net just 58 seconds into the contest. Riley Brace slipped a pass through the slot to Matia Marcantuoni, who was jumping in on the left side of the slot. Marcantuoni caught the feed on his backhand, redirecting it in for his fourth goal in four games. David Gilbert also grabbed an assist on the lone first period marker.

The middle frame saw significantly more scoring, as both sides turned on the red light twice. Wheeling netted the first goal at the 1:24 mark, when Max MacKay found a loose puck in the crease, pounding in the rebound of Clark Seymour's initial opportunity. Five minutes later, the Solar Bears got their first notch on the board. With a delayed penalty coming up against Wheeling, Brady Vail became the extra attacker, and he teamed up with Carson McMillan to set up Eric Baier for a one-time drive from the blueline. The Nailers regained their two-goal edge 1:54 later, when Derek Army tapped in a centering pass off of a rush by Nick D'Agostino. However, Orlando climbed back to within one at the 16:32 mark, as Ryan Rupert capitalized on an awkward bounce around the cage.

Unfortunately for the home team, the game took a drastically downward spiral in the third period. Carson McMillan knotted the score at three at the 1:26 mark, when his shot from the right circle tipped off a stick, changing direction and dipping into the goal. The Solar Bears then took their first lead of the evening 3:21 later, as Kristoff Kontos finished off a 2-on-1 rush with Brock Montgomery. Former Nailer Denver Manderson extended the Orlando advantage to two, slapping in a power play goal from the left circle, off of a pass by Blake Kessel. Kessel capped the scoring in a 6-3 final with an empty net tally.

Kent Patterson was the winning goalie for the Solar Bears, making 23 saves on 26 shots. Franky Palazzese took the loss for Wheeling, surrendering five goals on 30 shots.

The Nailers will visit the Indy Fuel on Saturday at 7:35, before returning to Wheeling for a 10:35 morning game against the Elmira Jackals on Wednesday. For tickets and more information, call (304) 234-GOAL.

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