Nailers have all the answers

CINCINNATI , OH – The Wheeling Nailers continued their dominance of the Cyclones in game two with a 3-1 win. Bryan Ewing again showed why he is this year’s David Desharnais of the ECHL. Two multi point games in a row and his first playoff goal show why he is Rookie of the year this season.

Curtis Darling has been brilliant in net these first games of the series. Stopping point blank shots and rebounds at will against the Cyclones’ best. Taking advantage of turnovers and defensive lapses by a normally solid Cincinnati defense, Wheeling has been outshot but thats not the half of the story. The Nailers defense has frustrated the third best offense to the point of Coach Chuck Weber of the Cyclones changing his superstitions and rituals to bring better luck. Two losses in a row in a series might just give the guy who sells the ALKA-SELTZER a bigger bonus this year. Wheeling again scored first on a power play shot by Doug Krantz let loose at center point . Assists were given to Chris Snavely and Chris Margott. thus the first ended with a 1-0 total.
The second stanza provided Wheeling further opportunity to pad its power play stats.   In a period filled with Cyclones penalties Jordan Morrison took a pass from Billy Ryan at 2:24 to notch the game winner.   Morrison has shown why his 74-point regular season was no fluke with strong outings in the first two games of this series.   Cyclones goalie Ryan Nie stymied the visitors on some very quality shots or the score would have been out of hand as it usually is between these two rivals. The Nailers kept their penalty minutes to a minimum and Cincy was unable to take advantage of these few power plays. The third opened as a defensive struggle as both squads knew overcoming a two goal deficit was within the Cyclones reach. Earlier in the season the scoring by both teams was plentiful when in a tilt with each other (9-7, 6-4).    At 13:50, Bryan Ewing added the insurance goal at even strength from linemate Morrison and Billy Ryan. For Cincinnati it was again too little too late as Matt Syroczynski slammed home a power play goal at 17:31. Assists went to Jimmy Kilpatrick and Mark Van Guilder.   This is a normally prolific unit capable of scoring seconds apart but to little avail this night. Ewing and Morrison each ended the game with a goal and an assist and Ryan with 2 assists. The Cyclones battled to the bitter end but Wheeling prevailed to go home with a 2=game advantage in the series.
Contact Rob.huelsman@prohockeynews.com
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