ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Torquato, Hotham Shootout Goals Lift Nailers Over Jackals

Published on February 3, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, WV - Nick Petersen and Paul Crowder posted two-goal nights, before Zack Torquato and Andrew Hotham scored in the shootout to lead the Nailers to a 4-3 win Friday night, in front of a crowd of 3,059.

Paul Crowder and Andrew Hotham set up Nick Petersen to score his fourth of the season for the Nailers, with a shot from the left circle only 2:35 into the first period. Patrick Killeen stood tall, making two huge saves on Elmira to keep Wheeling ahead. Adam Ross and Rob Bellamy found each other for a scuffle next to the net. After the face-off, Jordan Lane joined in, but was sent to the penalty box for roughing. Ross and Lane dropped the gloves later in the period, after a hit on Petersen. The Nailers had another chance on the power play, thanks to a slashing call on Corey Bellamy, but they were unable to convert.

The Nailers had the first power play opportunity of the second period, as Mario Larocque was called for hooking. While Wheeling failed to score, Killeen put his pad down for a great save. Ben Farrer and Denver Manderson rushed into the Jackals' zone on the penalty kill, but were unsuccessful. Elmira's power play kept pressuring the Nailers to lead Jimmy Martin to put the Jackals on the board, with help from Artem Demkov and Dustin Gazley. With under a minute left in the period, Ross put a shot on goal, and Peter Lenes picked up the rebound, giving the Nailers a 2-1 lead. Fourteen seconds later, Wheeling crashed the net, and Zack Torquato put the puck behind Timo Pielmeier to put the Nailers up 3-1. Petersen and Crowder were credited with assists.

The third period started off quietly. Lenes had a huge chance around 11:40, when Pielmeier came out into the right circle. Lenes carried the puck in towards the empty net, but he was beaten back by a Jackals defenseman. By the time Lenes tried to wrap around the net, Pielmeier was back in position, and the puck ended up on the outside of the net. Gazley and Kyle Bushee took offsetting penalties, but Hotham joined Bushee in the box. Elmira's power play succeeded again to cut the Nailers' lead to one goal, with Corey Cowick scored his first goal of the season on the 4-on-3, from Jordan Pietrus and Martin. The Nailers earned a man advantage with 1:56 to go in the third. Gazley charged into the Nailers' zone on a breakaway, but Killeen stopped him at the last second with his right pad, before Jordon Southorn was sent off for slashing. With just under a minute left, Elmira pulled Pielmeier for the extra attacker, and proceeded to score, as a flurry around the net resulted in Matt Campanale sending the puck behind Killeen with help from Pietrus.

Despite several great chances for both teams, five extra minutes were not enough to end the game. Torquato and Pietrus both scored in the fourth round of the shootout, but it was Hotham who scored in the seventh round to give the Nailers a 4-3 victory over the Jackals.

In the last three home games at WesBanco Arena, the Nailers have drawn over 10,000 fans.

The Nailers head to Trenton Saturday night to take on the Titans at 7:00 p.m. before a night off on Sunday. For ticket information or to purchase tickets call 304-234-GOAL (4625) or online at shop.wheelingnailers.com. You can now purchase Nailers game tickets on your smart phone by visiting m.wheelingnailers.com.

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ECHL Stories from February 3, 2012


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