Third Period Ruins Nailers Comeback
Published on February 2, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
DAYTON, OH - The Wheeling Nailers came back from being down 3-0 but the Dayton Bombers' three, third period goals defeated Wheeling 6-3 Friday night at the Nutter Center in Dayton. Justin Maiser's third goal of the game proved to be the game winner in the opening minute of the third period.
For the first time since December 9, Andy Franck was not in net to start the game for the Nailers. While he is on loan to Syracuse (AHL), backup Brian Gratz made the start and stopped 27 of 32 in a losing cause. It was just his second appearance of the season and first since November, when he was a member of the Reading Royals.
After a back and forth first half of the first period, Joe Cullen opened the scoring at 12:02 of the first. Taking a feed from Brent Walton on a two-on-one, he beat Gratz glove side for his sixth of the season.
Dayton took a 2-0 lead as Maiser stole the puck behind the net and converted on the shorthanded wrap-around. He scored his second of the game at the 5:06 mark of the second period from Cullen and Scott Ford on the power play.
Down 3-0, Wheeling responded with three goals of their own. Sparked by a shorthanded tally by Joe Guenther, the Nailers scored all three of their goals in the middle period. It was Wheeling's first shorthanded goal since January 5 against the Bombers. For Guenther it was his 19th of the season as he now is tied for the team lead with Jordan Cameron.
Ryan Moren knocked home a power-play goal inside the final four minutes of the second. Cameron hit Moren with a pass through the crease at the 16:29 mark. It was Moren's sixth and he is now tied with Paul Bissonnette for the scoring lead among defenseman.
Inside the final minute of the frame, Jon Smyth's wrister flew past Adam Berkhoel to tie the game at three. The Nailers outshot Dayton 16-13 in the second period but finished with just 27 shots on goal.
Maiser's hat-trick goal came at 0:52 of the third and Wheeling would never recover. With time winding down, the Nailers started taking chances and it backfired as Yanick Tifu was able to beat Gratz on a breakaway. Tifu also tallied the empty netter to secure the 6-3 win.
Wheeling will host Cincinnati on Saturday. The Nailers are 2-0 this season against the Cyclones at WesBanco Arena. The first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a Nailers t-shirt.
Tickets are available now by calling 304-234-GOAL, by visiting the Nailers team store located at 1315 Main St. or online at www.WheelingNailers.com.
ECHL Stories from February 2, 2007
- Wranglers fall to Storm 1-0 in shootout - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Third Period Ruins Nailers Comeback - Wheeling Nailers
- Seven and Counting For Toledo - Toledo Walleye
- Late Goal Not Enough As Steelheads Lose To Salmon Kings 3-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Grizzlies Beat Phoenix 5-2 - Utah Grizzlies
- Grizzlies Slow Down RoadRunners 5-2 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Long Beach Wins Barnburner over 'Catters 6-5 in OT - Texas Wildcatters
- Ice Pilots fall to Inferno 6-2 as streak comes to an end - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Royals Dropped In Overtime By Chiefs, 3-2 - Reading Royals
- Bombers Pound Nailers 6-3 - Dayton Bombers
- Aces euchre Lynx - Augusta Lynx
- Gladiators Slay Stingrays 6-2 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Gladiators Muscle Past Stingrays, 6-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
- 'Blades fall to Checkers 3-2 - Florida Everblades
- Late surge by Cyclones downs Titans, 4-1 - Trenton Devils
- Chiefs work overtime to beat Royals, 3-2 - Johnstown Chiefs
- Cyclones Beat Trenton, 4-1 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Two Titans receive call to AHL as roster gets shuffled - Trenton Devils
- Victoria Salmon Kings game notes - Victoria Salmon Kings
- RoadRunners Sign Former NHL Defenseman Jeff MacMillan - Phoenix RoadRunners
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Yutaka Fukufuji Re-Assigned To Reading From Los Angeles - Reading Royals
- Lynx add toughness up front with Gillies, Ferguson - Augusta Lynx
- Manitoba's Keefe to make first appearance in Victoria - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Cyclones Sign Nick Martens - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Ouellet Named MeiGray Group ECHL Alumnus Of The Month - ECHL
- Tardif Back To Grand Rapids - Toledo Walleye
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Alaska's Schmidt Named HOK Sport Plus Performer Of The Month - ECHL
- Bombers spend more time in the community - Dayton Bombers
- Pink at the Rink puck drops tomorrow - Fresno Falcons
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