Wheeling Wins Weekend Wrap-Up 5-3
Published on March 7, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Wheeling, WV - A pair of 3rd period power play goals broke a 2-2 tie and lifted the Nailers to a 5-3 victory over the Trenton Devils Sunday afternoon in WesBanco Arena. Aaron Clarke led the Nailers with a goal and three assists while T.J. Fox scored two goals and one assist and defenseman Mitch Ganzak had three assists increasing his season total to 36, tops among ECHL blue-liners.
Wheeling's record improves to 28-28-6 while the Trenton Devils fall to 25-26-9. With only 10 games left in the regular season, the Nailers stayed within two points of the 8th place Reading Royals who also won Sunday afternoon in a 6-5 overtime triumph against Kalamazoo.
The Nailers came away with a 1-0 lead after a very energetic first period. 5 minutes in, the Nailers forward TJ Fox picked up the rebound of an Aaron Clarke shot from the slot. Fox fired it home five-hole from the right-wing circle for his 21st goal of the year. Clarke and Ganzak got the assists on the play.
The second period saw the scoreboard light up quickly when Brett Wilson received a pass from Jack Combs on a 2-on-1. Wilson one-timed it past Michael-Lee Teslak's stretched out left leg to tie the score at 1-1.
Just 77 seconds later, Wheeling came right back. The Nailers saw a 2 on 1 develop and Aaron Clarke blasted the puck past Caruso to put the Nailers back up by one, 2-1. T.J. Fox had tipped the puck from the Wheeling line up to Casey Pierro-Zabotel racing up the left-wing who connected with Clarke across the ice. It was Clarke's 18th goal of the season and 2nd of the weekend.
After the quick early goals both goalies settled down and made some key saves until Devils' Tony Zancanaro jammed the puck past Teslak for his first score of the game. The late 2nd period tally came after Teslak had turned aside Jeff Prough's attempt at a wrap-around but Zancanaro was there to shove in the rebound.
The third period started just as fast as the second. Just 25 seconds into the period T.J. Fox blasted in his 2nd goal of the afternoon and 22nd of the year on a Nailers power play to give Wheeling a 3-2 lead. The play was set up by a big check in the corner by Aaron Clarke to take out one of the Devils defenders thus momentarily creating a 5-on-3 advantage. Clarke and Ganzak assisted on the go-ahead goal.
Minutes later the Nailers scored another power play goal when John D'Aversa blasted his 3rd goal of the season past an impeded Caruso giving Wheeling a 4-2 lead.
The Devils still had some fight in them and with 8:35 left in the game Jeff Prough added his third goal of the weekend when he rattled the puck in off the left post to cut the Wheeling lead to 4-3.
A late empty net goal by Billy Ryan with a minute and change left sealed the victory for the Nailers for the 5-3 final result. It was Billy Ryan's 3rd goal of the year.
The Nailers have the week off before they travel to Johnstown on Saturday March 13th beginning at 7:05 pm. That game will be the last for the Nailers against the Chiefs in the longest rivalry in ECHL history.
The Nailers begin a 5 game series with the Kalamazoo Wings at WesBanco Arena on Sunday March 14th at 3:05 that will feature a post-game open skate with Nailers players as part of every Sunday home game. Be sure to bring your skates and gloves... and don't forget your camera! Wheeling will travel to Kalamazoo for a pair of games on Wednesday, March 17 and Friday, March 19.
Nailers Notes:
Aaron Clarke returned to the lineup Sunday after missing Saturday's game with a minor injury. Clarke made a big impact with one goal and three assists and earned #1 star of the game honors.
Ryan Schnell and Aaron Boogaard were the scratches for the Nailers in the game as well as goalie Adam Berkhoel who continues to recover from his lower body injury. The time-line on Berkhoel's return remains uncertain.
The Wheeling Nailers will have a team appearance at a Meet-and-Greet this Tuesday from 6-8pm at the Perkins on National Road. Come out and meet your favorite Wheeling Nailers!
Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL or toll-free at 1-877-NAIL-TIX. Get your tickets online at the team's website at wheelingnailers.com.
ECHL Stories from March 7, 2010
- Royals Win Overtime Thriller Over K-Wings, 6-5 - Reading Royals
- Reversal Of Fortune Lifts Wheeling Over Trenton, 5-3 - Trenton Devils
- Checkers Outlast Walleye For 2-1 Win - Charlotte Checkers
- Royals Outlast K-Wings - Kalamazoo Wings
- Wheeling Wins Weekend Wrap-Up 5-3 - Wheeling Nailers
- Ford And Ricci Have Historical Nights In 6-2 Win Over Cyclones - South Carolina Stingrays
- Jackals Stun Chiefs With Overtime Victory - Elmira Jackals
- Walleye Fall, 2-1 - Toledo Walleye
- Shorthanded Chiefs Fall In Overtime - Johnstown Chiefs
- Cyclones Stung By South Carolina, 6-2 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Walleye Break 200,000 - Toledo Walleye
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Lacroix Recalled By Hamilton - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Everblades Defensemen Hotham and Duffy Promoted to AHL - Florida Everblades
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Countdown To Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Stingrays Gameday: Stingrays Close Series With Cyclones Today - South Carolina Stingrays
- Defenseman Kroll Recalled To AHL; Stingrays Sign Holladay - South Carolina Stingrays
- Condors Hockey For Just $1 This Week - Bakersfield Condors
- Balanced Effort Tips Scale For Trenton, 6-3 - Trenton Devils
- Jackals Game Preview: Elmira At Johnstown - Elmira Jackals
- 8,042 fans enjoy D'Alvise, Robinson, Bates trio effort of nine points in rout - Stockton Thunder
- Reign Knocks Out Wranglers, 4-3 (SO) - Ontario Reign
- Stockton claims 7-3 decision over Victoria in series finale. - Victoria Salmon Kings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
