Wheeling Comeback Falls Short in Game One
Published on May 29, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
ALLEN, TX- The Wheeling Nailers came oh so close to putting together another one of their memorable comebacks in game one of the Kelly Cup Final. Wheeling fell behind the Allen Americans, 4-1, before netting a pair of power play goals in the third period, pulling to within one. However, the Nailers were unable to come up with the equalizer, and Allen potted an insurance tally for a 5-3 final score.
After a scoreless first period, the contest took a different turn in the middle stanza. Allen got on the board first with a power play goal at the 1:15 mark. Tristan King let a wrist shot go from the right point, finding the top-left corner of the cage. King was also responsible for the second tally for the Americans, which came with 7:50 to go. He and Nikita Jevpalovs exchanged passes, with King potting a shot from the left side of the slot. The Nailers climbed within one at the 15:11, thanks to a shorthanded goal. Jordan Kwas swept a pass to Shane Bakker, who drove in his fifth of the playoffs from the right circle. Allen responded 24 seconds later with a power play marker, when Jevpalovs fed Greger Hanson in the slot. Spencer Asuchak tacked on one more for the home team with less than a minute remaining in the frame, when he tipped in Aaron Gens' point shot, putting the Americans up, 4-1.
Wheeling began to make a comeback in the third period, utilizing a pair of power play goals. At the 9:06 mark, Anton Zlobin struck for the third time in three games, clobbering in a one-timer from the top of the left circle, off of a feed from Clark Seymour. 1:23 later, John McCarron pulled the visitors within one. Riley Brace played the puck to Mathew Maione along the right wall, who found McCarron for a backhander, which was slid into the left side of the net. Unfortunately, the comeback fell short and the Americans iced the 5-3 win on a 2-on-1 goal by Gary Steffes, who lifted a backhand shot into the top pocket of the goal.
Jake Hildebrand got the win in goal for Allen, making 25 saves on 28 shots. Brian Foster suffered the defeat for Wheeling, coming up with 27 stops on 32 shots.
The Nailers and Americans will play game two in Allen on Sunday at 5:05, before heading to Wheeling for games three, four, and five on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Wednesday's tilt will begin at 7:05, followed by 7:35 face-offs on Friday and Saturday.
ECHL Stories from May 29, 2016
- Nailers Win Wild One in Allen to Tie Series - Wheeling Nailers
- Nailers at Americans Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- Defenseman Joey Leach Recalled to Hershey - South Carolina Stingrays
- Kelly Cup Finals Game 2 Today in Allen - Allen Americans
- ECHL Today - May 29 - ECHL
- Americans Score Four Times in the Second, Beat Wheeling 5-3 in Game 1 - Allen Americans
- Wheeling Comeback Falls Short in Game One - Wheeling Nailers
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