Nailers Earn Point in Shootout Loss
Friday November 21st, 2008 | Game Recap

The Wheeling Nailers picked up a valuable standings point on the road in an exciting 4-3 shootout loss at the Cincinnati Cyclones on Friday night. Nick Johnson led the Nailers attack with a pair of goals to increase his league leading total to 13 lamplighters including his ECHL leading 6th power play goal of the season.

Thomas Beuregard's score in the 3rd round of the shootout proved to be the game-winner as the Cyclones beat the Nailers 3-2 in the 5 rounder. Cincinnati scored in the first 3 rounds of the shootout for the victory. Shootout scorers for the Nailers were Jon Grecu and Mitch Ganzak in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Ganzak has 2 shootout goals this year.

Curtis Darling took the shootout loss for the Nailers but it doesn't take away from his terrific performance. Coming off his first ever shutout at WesBanco Arena Darling made 36 saves, many of the dazzling variety, in thwarting the Cyclones attackers time and time again.

One shot that got past him was the 2nd of Kyle Rank's slapshot goals at 16:03 that gave the Cyclones the 3-2 lead late in the 3rd. That lead lasted only 14 seconds though as the Nailers raced into the zone shortly after the center face-off and Elgin Reid's blast from the high slot bounced off the chest of Houle and trickled across the goal-line. It was Elgin Reid's 5th goal of the season.

Reid Cashman had an assist in his first game with the Nailers on assignment from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and had a solid game on the blue-line including many fine set-ups for his teammates and a couple of big blasts from the point.

Both teams had great opportunities in a back and forth overtime. It began with Cincinnati on the power play stemming from a Cashman penalty at 19:20 of the 3rd. Darling made several spectacular saves and the Cyclones also missed on a couple of big opportunities as the Nailers hung in there. Wheeling raced back with a couple chances of their own only to be denied by Houle.

Wheeling is 2-0-1 against Cincinnati this year. This was their first meeting at US Bank Arena in Cincy. They play a rematch Saturday night at 7:35.

Wheeling's next home game is Wednesday, November 26 against the Johnstown Chiefs at 7:05. It's Riesbeck's "Our Family" Food Bank night. All "Our Family" food item donations will entitle fans to $2 off an adult ticket and earn an entry into a drawing for a pair of Pittsburgh Penguins tickets. All donations will go to benefit the Wheeling Food Bank. It's also WesBanco Wednesday with fans getting a buy one get one free ticket offer by showing their WesBanco debit or credit card or checkbook or picking up a coupon at WesBanco locations.

Saturday, November 29 is Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame Night. Legendary Wheeling Thunderbirds scorer Darren Schwartz will be the initial inductee with WAHA founder Bob Otten joining him in the inaugural class. Darren Schwartz bobblehead dolls for the first 2500 fans courtesy of Main Street Bank.

Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL or log on to wheelingnailers.com for more information.