WHEELING, WV – The Wheeling Nailers entered Friday’s game against the Toledo Walleye perched a-top their division. Donning their Captain America inspired uniforms for Marvel Super Hero Night, the Nailers looked to channel their inner hero and give a near sellout crown a win at WesBanco Arena.
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Cam Brown controlled the opening face-off for the Nailers and for the first few minutes Wheeling dictated play. Infused with recent additions from the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins Jeff Taylor, Dylan Zink, and Freddie Tiffels, the Nailers manufactured some great scoring chances early.
Toledo, for its part, nearly beat Sean Macguire a couple of times when errant passes were swallowed up in the crease and wristed on net. Wheeling would finish the first period with eight shots on goal to Toledo’s four. Toledo’s goalie Pat Nagle, last weeks ECHL goalie of the week, was up to the task stopping several high quality shots. Nagle entered the game with a 1.96 goals against average and a .931 save percentage and appeared to get stronger as the period went on. Both teams were perfect on their respective penalty kills and the first ended with no score for either club.
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The puck dropped for the second period and Kenny Ryan won the opening face-off leading to a sold scoring chance but Nagle remained perfect. Near the five minute mark Hunter Fejes blocked a pass at the blue line and broke free to score from an odd angle just past the left circle. Having finally solved Nagle, Wheeling would add another at 7:39 when Reid Gardiner cleaned up some garbage in the crease, beating Nagle blocker side high through a partial screen. Cody Wydo and Jeff Taylor both assisted on the goal. Toledo would get two power-play opportunities but failed to cash in and the second ended with Wheeling leading by two.
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Toledo won the opening face-off to start the third but turned it over in their zone leading to a breakaway for Cody Wydo. Nagle made a tremendous blocker save shifting momentum and the Wallaye stayed on the attack. Darian Dziurzynski won a puck battle near the half wall and chipped it to Davis Vandane who fed Patrick McCarron at the point. McCarron one timed it on net and after hitting a couple players slipped past Macguire stick side.
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The Nailers and Wallaye would trade power play chances but both came up short. Then halfway through the period Wydo took a backhanded feed from Riley Bourbonnais in the crease and was able to elevate it just past Nagle’s blocker. With just over three minutes left it appeared as though Wheeling would cruise to victory. Then at 17:29 Toledo got an odd man rush on a turnover and Connor Crisp sent a wrister over Macguire’s right shoulder short side. Then a minute later Kevin Tansey blasted one past Macguire tying things up with just over a minute left to play. Three periods would not decide this one. Someone was going to have to step up and be the hero.
Courtesy of Zack Rawson zrawsonphoto.com
Re-enter Reid Gardiner. Gardiner entered the game leading all rookies with thirteen points and sat ninth in the league with fewer games in hand than those above him. He is averaging more than a goal per game and he already added to that total in the first period. Perhaps it’s only fitting that on Marvel Super Hero Night Gardner would send a blast past Nagle with under two minutes remaining winning it before a raucous home crowd 4-3.
Wheeling travels to Toledo Saturday for the second part of a home and home series then the Nailers will be back home on Sunday to take on the Norfolk Admirals.
Following the game, Nailers Coach Jeff Christian was asked about the improved penalty kill that was perfect for the first time this season. He gave all of the credit to his assistant coach Riley Armstrong.
“We’ve been working on the power-play since one and [Coach] Riley has been in charge of the penalty kill, it’s been his pet project all year and he’s been doing a good job,” Christian said.
When asked about the influx of players from the Nailers AHL affiliate, Christian said the players will need some time to adjust.
“It’s going to take some time to get them up to game speed, you know they haven’t been playing very much up there, but with are arena being a bit smaller than regulation, things happen a little quicker,” he said. “Tomorrow they will feel a little bit better in Toledo, it’s regulation size.”
When asked about the tremendous start to the season by Gardiner, Christian had plenty to say.
“He’s got a lot of skill and a lot of heart. He goes to the dirty areas to score, he’s got a great shot,” Christian said. “I mean he’s got ten goals in nine games or something like that. He just works and works. He’s an exceptional talent.”
When asked what has led to the early success on the power-play, Christian pointed to a couple of key factors.
“We’ve encouraged our guys to be creative both on the power-play and five on five. A shot first mentality, a sense of urgency, not being stationary and moving,” he said. “We have great talent on both power-play units.”
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