WHEELING, WV: Two teams that saw each other many times last season
locked horns at WesBanco Arena on Saturday night for only the
second time this season. After a game earlier in the year that
saw the Wings edge the Nailers 6-5, many people were looking forward
to an offensive explosion from both teams. However, that was not
the case, as defense took center stage in the second meeting of
the season. The Kalamazoo Wings left WesBanco Arena with a 2-1
victory over the Wheeling Nailers.
The Nailers headed on the power play and at 4:52, and Nick Petersen
found a rebound in front of the net and stuffed it home to make
it 1-0 Nailers. Petersen picked up his second of the season, with
the helpers going to Zack Torquato and Olivier Dame-Malka. Despite
being outshot 9-6, the Nailers took a 1-0 lead into the locker
room. Patrick Killeen played a phenomenal first period, and was
tested on all nine shots.
Patrick Killeen made what many people will call save of the year
in the second period on Kalamazoo's Nick Sirota, and the Nailers
came back the other way on a couple of nice chances on Riley Gill.
However, Gill was equal to the task. At the end of the second
period, the Nailers were outshooting the Wings by a 21-17 count,
and a 15-8 count for the second period.
After a Zack Torquato hooking penalty, Patrick Killeen's shutout
streak came to an end at 12:37 of the third period on a one-time
power play goal by Dustin Cloutier. Cloutier's third goal of the
year was assisted by Darren Archibald and Justin Taylor. Darryl
Bootland gave the Wings their first lead of the game at 17:28,
with his 13th goal of the season, from Nick Sirota to make it
2-1 Wings. The Nailers took a timeout with 1:33 remaining, and
then pulled Patrick Killeen on the ensuing faceoff. Former Wheeling
Nailer Elgin Reid took a high sticking penalty with 1:19 remaining,
giving the Nailers a six-on-four advantage. Peter Lenes tried
to take the puck coast-to-coast, and Riley Gill came up with the
sprawling glove save. Kalamazoo took at timeout with 18 seconds
remaining in the third period. Bodies went flying all over the
ice, and the Nailers had a few opportunities. However, they were
not able to get the puck past Riley Gill.
Riley Gill was the winning goaltender, stopping 31 of 32 shots.
Patrick Killeen took the loss in net for the Nailers, stopping
26 of 28 shots. Gill improved to 15-9-1-2 on the year, while patrick
Killeen falls to 13-10-2-1 for the season. Killeen's season-high
shutout streak lasted 209:54.
The Nailers will return to action tomorrow night at the Cambria
County War Memorial in Johnstown for a 6:05 meeting with the Toledo
Walleye.
The Wheeling Nailers play next at WesBanco Arena on Friday, February
3rd , 2012 at 7:35 p.m. when they take on the Elmira Jackals.
All Nailers games can be heard live on the MIX 97.3 FM and www.wheelingnailers.com,
and all road games can be seen live on RTV 9 and America One Networks
at b2livetv.com.
Single game tickets for the 2011-2012 season are available at
the Nailers Office in Downtown Wheeling, the WesBanco Arena Box
Office, any Ticketmaster Outlet, online at shop.wheelingnailers.com
or through charge-by-phone at 304-234-GOAL.
Visit the official website of theWheeling Nailers at www.wheelingnailers.com
