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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

The Great Gill Lifts Nailers to Crucial Victory

March 29, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, WV- While the Wheeling Nailers do their best to get players to the next level, there is nothing sweeter than seeing them succeed in helping this team to victories. Sahir Gill had spent the majority of the last three months with the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, before rejoining the Nailers for their four games in five days this week. His impact was felt immediately, as Gill recorded five goals and nine points in the four clashes, topping it all off with a hat trick, as part of a four-point game on Sunday afternoon. His third goal turned out to be the game winner, as Wheeling grabbed two huge points with a 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Cyclones at WesBanco Arena.

The Nailers didn't wait long to open the scoring, doing so at the 2:21 mark of the first period. Clark Seymour grabbed the puck off of the right wing boards, where he handed off a pass for Sahir Gill. Gill made his way to the top of the slot, letting a wrist shot go, which flew into the top-right corner of the cage. Cincinnati pulled even later in the frame with a shorthanded goal. Stephan Vigier broke up a play, then led a 2-on-1 rush down the left side of the ice. Vigier kept the puck to himself, lifting a shot into the top-left corner of the net.

The second period script played out in similar fashion to the first, except in reverse order, and with less time between the goals. This time, the Cyclones took the lead at the 8:37 mark, when former Nailer Christiaan Minella pounced on a loose puck in the slot, flipping it over a sprawled out Eric Hartzell. That advantage lasted for a mere two minutes, as Wheeling answered right back. David Gilbert led Gill into the left side of the offensive zone, where he ultimately took a shot from the left circle, beating Rob Madore on the glove side for the second time.

The tied score lasted until the 12:51 mark of the third period, when the Nailers utilized the power play to take the lead. Gill made a gorgeous move at the left point, creating space to deliver a pass to Gilbert at the bottom of the right circle. Without any hesitation, Gilbert slapped a pass over to Chaz Johnson, who banged a one-timer into a wide open net from the left side of the crease. Gill was at the center of attention again with 2:25 left in the contest, when he completed his hat trick with a one-timer from the left circle. While that goal served as insurance at the time, it turned out to be bigger than what may have been expected, as Jack Combs clawed Cincinnati to within one with his tap-in goal on the right side of the crease with 1:22 to go. From there, the Nailers shut the door on any further comeback, hanging on for the 4-3 triumph.

Eric Hartzell won for the third time in as many days for Wheeling, stopping 28 of the 31 shots he faced. Rob Madore suffered the loss for Cincinnati, making 28 saves on 32 shots.

In the race for the final playoff spots in the North Division (top four get in), Kalamazoo is in third place with 71 points and six games left, Wheeling is in fourth place with 68 points and seven games left, Cincinnati is in fifth place with 65 points and six games left, and Indy is in sixth place with 63 points and seven games left.

The Nailers will travel to Elmira on Wednesday for a 7:05 game against the Jackals, before returning home on Friday for a 7:35 tilt against the Evansville IceMen.

The Nailers have two home games remaining in the 2014-15 regular season, with a 7:35 tilt against the Evansville IceMen on April 3rd and a 7:35 battle against the Elmira Jackals on April 10th. Both nights will be Flat Screen Fridays, Frosty Fridays, and Player Poster Giveaways, while the regular season home finale will be Fan Appreciation Night.

Wheeling Nailers 2015-16 season tickets, as well as flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets for 2014-15 are on sale now. For more information, call 304-234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com.

Listen to all Nailers regular season and post-season games live on the Valley's rock station EAGLE 107.5 FM, on www.iheartradio.com or watch live on www.echl.tv. Catch every road game live on WLUTV on Comcast Cable 14.

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