Nailers Season Comes to an End in Game Six

KALAMAZOO, MI –Ryan Nie made 37 saves to help lead the Kalamazoo Wings to the Eastern Conference Championship over the Wheeling Nailers, with a 6-1 victory in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals played at Wings Stadium on Tuesday night.

Kalamazoo struck first in a tightly contested first period on the power play. Jon Landry broke into the zone, and used a screen in front to fire a wrist shot past Nailers goaltender Peter Delmas to give the Wings a 1-0 lead at the end of the first period.

The Nailers Joey Haddad tied the game on a strong move to the front of the net, stuffing a backhanded shot through the five-hole of Ryan Nie to even the score at 1-1. However, nearly a minute later former Nailers Aaron Clarke redirected a Wes O’Neil shot past Delmas to give the Wings the lead back at 2-1.

Nearly two minutes later, the Wings scored on the power play as Trent Daavettilla received a cross crease pass on a 2-on-0 down low and fired the puck top shelf past a sliding Delmas to give the Wings a 3-1 lead.

Just 53 seconds into the third, Sam Ftorek ripped a slapshot from the right wing side into the net to extend the lead to 4-1. Halfway through the third, Darryl Llyod scored a goal from the the top of the crease to make it 5-1.

The Nailers received a late power play opportunity, and rolled the dice pulling goaltender Peter Delmas to allow ofor the extra attacker. However, Brandon Svendson would seal it, as he would roll the puck down the ice into the open net for the goal, to seal the 6-1 victory. Wheeling outshot Kalamazoo 38-36 in the game.

The Wings will now play the Alaska Aces for game one of the Kelly Cup Finals in Anchorage on Saturday. The Wheeling Nailers would like to thank all of the support from the fans and the community throughout the 2010-2011 season.

Eastern Conference Semifinal Series Schedule/Result:

(3) Kalamazoo Wings vs. (4) Wheeling Nailers (Best-of-Seven Series) Wings win Series 4-2

Game #1 – Wheeling – 3 at Kalamazoo-2 (overtime) (Friday, April 29)

Game #2 – Wheeling – 1 at Kalamazoo – 4 (Saturday, April 29)

Game #3 – Kalamazoo -3 at Wheeling – 5 (Thursday, May 5)

Game #4 – Kalamazoo – 3 at Wheeling – 2 (Saturday, May 7.)

Game #5 – Kalamazoo – 4 at Wheeling – 0 (Sunday, May 8)

Game #6 – Wheeling – 1 at Kalamazoo – 6 (Tuesday, May 10)