Wheeling, WV – The Nailers pressured Devils goalie Gerald Coleman all night including blasting 20 shots in the third period alone but couldn’t come up with a game tying goal as they fell to the Trenton Devils 6-3 Saturday night at WesBanco Arena.
Wheeling’s record goes to 27-28-6 while the Trenton Devils improve to 25-25-9 to pull within one point of Wheeling in the standings.
The Nailers blasted a season high 46 shots on goal in the game but Devils goalie Gerald Coleman turned aside 43 of them in getting the win. Wheeling’s penalty kill kept the team in the game holding Trenton to 0-for-8 on the power play including 0-for-5 in the 2nd period.
A crowd of over 3,300 came out to cheer on the Nailers as part of Organ Donation Awareness Weekend sponsored by CORE and the OVMC. The special jerseys the Nailers wore during the weekend were auctioned after the game with the proceeds benefitting the Center for Organ Recovery and Education. Thanks to CORE and the Ohio Valley Medical Center as well as our great fans for all helping the Wheeling Nailers generate funds for this great cause.
A wild first period set the tone for the game when just a few minutes in, Wheeling thought they had a goal only for it to be waved off by the officials. Jordan Morrison put it past goalie Gerald Coleman but was then ruled a “kick” and taken off the board.
This opened the door and the Devils hit the board first 12:40 into the first period when forward Jeff Prough snuck the puck past Nailers goalie Michael-Lee Teslak for his first of the game.
The Nailers had several good shots and had some opportunities to end the first but were unable to get redemption.
The Nailers didn’t waste any time in the second period. Just 0:21 seconds in, Casey Pierro-Zabotel grabbed a rebound off the drive of Lane Caffaro and slammed it home from the right wing, for his 12th goal of the season.
Under 2 minutes later, the Devils regained the lead with Prough’s second goal in as many frames. Prough stuffed the puck past Teslak after the initial save was made to give the Devils a 2-1 advantage.
The period began to slow until Dave Leaderer’s shot from the corner got through Teslak, to boost the Devils lead to 3-1.
Not to be outdone, Blair Yaworski raced up ice shorthanded and fired the puck in from the right wing circle to cut the Devils’ lead back to one, at 3-2.
Trenton scored 3 goals in the third starting when Jack Combs shoveled it in past Teslak. Matt Vokes and former Wheeling Nailer Slavomir Tomko were awarded with assists and the Devils took back a two goal cushion.
The Nailers continued to fight back, however. In the midst of a power play, Billy Ryan punched the puck in through a mad scramble in the crease to tally his second score of the season and trimming the lead to one once more.
After many of the Nailers players thought the play was blown dead, Jack Combs jammed it in from Teslak’s right side for his second score giving the Devils another two goal advantage 5-3.
Tony Zancanaro added a shorthanded empty net goal with 1:38 left to seal the game for the Devils, 6-3.
With only 11 games left in the regular season, the Nailers are currently tied for 9th in the American Conference with Gwinnett with 60 points each The Nailers trail 8th place Reading for the last playoff spot by two points.
Nailers Notes:
Scratches for the game included Aaron Boogaard and Aaron Clarke who missed the game with a minor injury. Adam Berkhoel was also a scratch as Michael-Lee Teslak continues to serve as the team’s lone ‘regular’ goalie with equipment manager Billy Higgins dressing as the team’s emergency backup goalie. Dan Henningson remains on the injured reserve and was also a scratch.
The Nailers wrap up their 3 game home stand with a Sunday matinee game against the Trenton Devils beginning at 3:05pm. It will feature a post-game open skate with the Nailers player as part of every Sunday home game. Be sure to bring your skates and gloves…and don’t forget your camera!
