WHEELING, WV – The Wheeling Nailers have made a habit of rebounding quickly when things turn difficult, and on Friday night, they put a brief two-game losing skid to bed. Despite a goal 18 seconds into the night by the South Carolina Stingrays, the Nailers had an answer, receiving goals from Zack Torquato, Adam Krause, and Brett Stern for a 3-2 triumph at WesBanco Arena. Brian Foster also made a large contribution with 38 saves.
Fans were barely in their seats before the first goal was scored, as the Stingrays took just 18 seconds to turn on the red light. Bobby Shea’s right point was stopped by Brian Foster, but the rebound was pounced on and finished off by Stephan Vigier. Wheeling bounced back from the quick deficit, tying the score a little less than five minutes later. Sahir Gill won an offensive zone face-off to Zack Torquato, whose left circle wrist shot flew into the top-right corner of the goal.
The score stayed deadlocked until the 13:12 mark of the second period, when the Nailers took their first lead of the evening. Harrison Ruopp sent a pass ahead to Zack Torquato, who was entering on the left side of the offensive zone. Torquato slipped a pass into the low slot for Adam Krause, who used his backhand to drive a shot through Mark Dekanich’s legs.
Wheeling added to its lead at the 3:39 mark of the third period, with what turned out to be a large insurance goal at the time. Moments after Riley Brace rang a shot off of the crossbar, he and Matia Marcantuoni worked the puck around to Brett Stern at the left point. Stern let a wrist shot go, which dipped down and into the net. South Carolina got a goal from Colin Mulvey in the right circle at 7:17 to cut its deficit to one, but the Nailers tightened up defensively, taking a 3-2 score into the win column.
Brian Foster snared the win in goal for Wheeling, stopping 38 of the 40 shots he faced. Mark Dekanich made 22 saves on 25 shots for South Carolina, but took the loss.
The Nailers and Stingrays will go to battle again on Saturday at 7:35 pm.
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