Wheeling Falls To Chiefs 3-1 In Hard Fought Battle
November 26, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
The Wheeling Nailers lost a hard-fought 3-1 contest to the first place Johnstown Chiefs on Thanksgiving Eve at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling. Andrew Sarauer led the way for the Chiefs scoring all 3 goals to take the team lead in that department with 9 and Kris Mayotte turned away 33 of 34 Nailers shots to hold them at bay.
Wheeling's lone goal came from ECHL leading scorer Tommy Goebel whose 25th point came on his 10th goal of the year at 14:14 of the 2nd period on a feed from the top of the right circle by Nick Johnson on the power play. Goebel knocked it forward from between the circles either with his stick or possibly with his skate (no distinct kicking motion involved) to light the lamp.
Wheeling fell behind in the 1st period on a pair of goals by Sarauer. His first shot from the left dot bounced high in the air of goalie Curtis Darling's chest and lay behind him in the crease with two Wheeling blue liners hustling in to try to clear it away but Sarauer worked his way through to knock it home right before the cage got jarred from the pegs. His unassisted goal at 13:09 gave the Chiefs a 1-0 lead.
He lit the lamp again at 16:15 on a rebound from a shot taken from the left side.
Wheeling was buzzing for much of the 2nd and 3rd periods but Mayotte made several fine stops and the Nailers just couldn't get the bounces. Goebel's goal late in the 2nd got the Nailers on the board and pulled them to within one but they could get no closer.
In the 3rd the Nailers failed to convert on a couple big power play opportunities with several good chances thwarted by big saves or unlucky bounces. Then the Nailers lost control of the puck in their own zone and the interception led to an open Sarauer between the circles who roofed it over Darling's shoulder for the 3rd goal.
The Chiefs improve to 13-4-0 with the win and have won 10 of their last 11 games. The Nailers fall 3 points behind the division leaders with a record of 9-2-5. Wheeling has the fewest number of regulation losses in the league.
The Nailers have the day off to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday and are back in action on Friday night at the 3rd place Dayton Bombers at 7:35.
Wheeling's next home game is Saturday night, November 29th, vs. the Elmira Jackals at 7:35. It's Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame night with legendary Wheeling Thunderbird scorer Darren Schwartz being honored as the initial inductee along with WAHA founded Bob Otten. Schwartz is 6th all-time in ECHL scoring with 313 career goals and Otten was responsible for the growing popularity of hockey in the area with the founding of the Wheeling Amateur Hockey Association in 1964.
It's also Toys for Tots night with fans encouraged to bring their extra toys to the game to be donated to Toys for Tots. The Nailers will also have a Teddy Bear Toss night. After the Nailers score their first goal it will rain Teddy Bears at WesBanco Arena and fans are encouraged to bring their Teddy Bears and throw them onto the ice with the bears to be donated to Toys for Tots.
For more information call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL or log on at wheelingnailers.com.
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