Checkers Rally to Defeat Nailers 5-4
Friday January 22nd, 2010 | Game Recap

Team Stat Comparison

WHE

CHR

Score

4

5

Shots

29

38

Power Play

0/4

3/6

Penalties

7

6

3 Stars

1. Tkaczuk

2. Ward

3. Slattengren

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Wheeling Nailers lost a wild back and forth 5-4 decision at the Charlotte Checkers Friday night in the opener of a 3 game road trip.

Charlotte took a 2-0 lead in the opening period but the Nailers rallied for 4 unanswered goals to take a 4-2 lead early in the 3rd period before the Checkers would come back with 3 straight power play goals for the win. Charlotte’s 3-for-5 performance on the power play proved to be the difference.

T.J. Fox scored a pair of goals to lead the Nailers and increase his season total to 15. Aaron Clarke played a strong game with one goal and two assists including a steal of the puck off the back of the cage in the Charlotte zone and then scoring from his belly after his backhand wrap-around was initially stopped by Checkers goalie Ryan Munce.

Chris Davis had a pair of assists for the Nailers and Dan Henningson scored his 2nd goal of the year as well.

The Checkers were led by Andrew Slattengren with a couple of goals. Matt Schepke carried into the Wheeling zone late on a power play in the 3rd period and danced into the slot to rifle home the game-winner blocker-side on Michael-Lee Teslak.

Henningson ripped a shot from the center point off an Andrew Lord face-off win early in the 2nd period to cut the Checkers lead to 2-1.

Chris Davis fired the puck up to Aaron Clarke who nicely fed T.J. Fox cutting in on the 2-on-1 to score a little over a minute after Heningson’s goal to tie the game at 2-2.

Later in the 2nd Clarke would steal it behind the cage for his fine unassisted goal to give the Nailers the lead.

And T.J. Fox would score on a couple whacks at it early in the 3rd to give the Nailers a 4-2 lead. But Charlotte scored back to back power play goals 30 seconds apart 5-on-3 and then 5-on-4 to tie the game and get the large Charlotte crowd of over 11,000 at Time Warner Cable Arena into the game eventually setting up Matt Schepke’s power play goal a few minutes later.

The Nailers continue their road trip Sunday afternoon at 4 at the South Carolina Stingrays and conclude the road-trip Tuesday at 7 again at South Carolina. That opens a four game series between the Nailers and the league’s top team as the Stingrays will visit Wheeling for a pair of games next weekend on Saturday and Sunday.

The Nailers return to Wheeling for back to back home games on Saturday and Sunday January 30th and 31st to host the South Carolina Stingrays. Saturday, is Doug Sauter Bobblehead Night for the first 2,500 fans courtesy of WesBanco and Wheeling Hockey Hall of Fame Night. Doug Sauter and Nick Bedway will be inducted in pre-game ceremonies featuring the unveiling of their Hall of Fame banners. Sauter is the first and all-time winningest head coach in Wheeling hockey history. Nick Bedway was a long-time beat-writer covering the team and introducing the Ohio Valley to pro hockey. They will be joining the inaugural class including all-time Wheeling leading scorer Darren Schwartz and WAHA founder Bob Otten.
Sunday is a KoSports Ice of Dreams Night and will feature an open-skate with the Nailers players after the game. Don’t forget to bring your skates, gloves, and camera!
Nailers hockey is always the most awesome family entertainment value in town and we want you there cheering on your hometown team. Kids tickets are always $5 and students get in for only $7. Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL
There are still openings available for the Nailers inaugural Education Field Trip Day on Tuesday, February 9th. Tickets are free for all students and teachers when the Nailers play the Johnstown Chiefs at 11:00am. All the kids will be receiving an educational book and will quizzed on the material they learn at the game when they return to the classroom. It’s going to be a really fun time for the kids so get your school signed up for the special event with the Nailers by calling 304-234-GOAL.