Faceoff Factor

ECHL 10/17/08 Game Recap

Kim Conner | Minor Leagues (ECHL, AHL, etc)

Oct 18, 10:12 PM | Hype this story!

Wheeling – 7 Cincinatti – 5

The Wheeling Nailers opened their 2008-2009 season with a win over the Cincinatti Cyclones. In a furious back-and-forth game between the teams, it was the Nailers that left with the win over the defending Kelly Cup champions.

Though the Nailers went 0-8 on the powerplay, having two short-handed goals scored on them in the first period alone, they also held Cincinatti to 1-9 on their own powerplay.

With the Cyclones having a 3-2 lead going into the second period on goals from Sean Perkins and Thomas Beauregard – the Nailers’ Nick Johnson would get his first of the season, and Andrew Lord would score his first of two on the night – the Nailers would kick it up a notch in the second. Off goals from Jeremy Scherlinck, Aaron Clarke, and Andrew Lord’s second, the Nailers would take a 5-4 lead into the third.

Rob Sirriani scored an amazing goal seven minutes into the third period, flipping a wrister to the net while falling. After that, it was all defense. The Nailers would be short-handed for most of the last half of the third period. And although Thomas Beauregard scored his third of the night on a Cylone powerplay with less than seven minutes left, the Nailers held a one-goal lead until Jordan Morrison, playing on the PK, sent a backhander down the length of the ice for an empty-net goal with five seconds left.

Game Notes

• Brock Sheahan took a roughing minor at 13:25 of the third period when he came to the aid of goaltender Curtis Darling after he was run in the crease.
• Wheeling’s Cedrick Bernier required a few stitches in his lip after a fight with Cincinatti’s Mitch Woods.
• Nick Johnson, who scored the Nailers’ first goal of the night, had one practice with the team prior to the game.
• Andrew Lord’s second goal came as the result of an intense cycling of the puck by Wheeling.

Johnstown – 2 Trenton – 1

The Johnstown Chiefs stole a win in New Jersey with a 2-1 win over the Trenton Devils. A battle of special teams, the Chiefs gave Trenton 8 powerplays over the course of the game, only allowing one goal. The Chiefs went 1-5.

A scoreless first period was kept excited by the number of penalties, eight total, including a fight between Johnstown’s Alex Penner and Trenton’s Thomas Harrison.

The second period, also with eight penalties, saw Trenton strike first with a powerplay goal by Chris Poli.

Second-year Chief Ryan Garlock cashed in with two goals in the third goals in the third, one on the powerplay, to give Johnstown the lead, and the win.

ECHL SCORES

Florida Everblades – 6
Charlotte Checkers – 3

Mississippi Sea Wolves – 4
Augusta Lynx – 2

Elmira Jackals – 5
Reading Royals – 2

Phoenix RoadRunners – 7
Victoria Salmon Kings – 1

Alaska Aces – 4
Las Vegas Wranglers – 1