photograph by: Joe Lovell
Wheeling Nailers ahead Logan Pietilla (13) tucks a shot beneath the crossbar previous Greensboro goaltender Nikita Quapp as Wheeling’s Connor Lockhart, who assisted on the objective, seems on in the course of the Nailers’ 5-2 win over the Gargoyles Sunday at WesBanco Arena.
WHEELING — It looks as if the one factor the Wheeling Nailers do today is win, win once more, after which carry on profitable.
On Sunday afternoon, they closed out a stretch of eight video games in 12 days by finishing a three-game weekend sweep of the Greensboro Gargoyles at WesBanco Arena. The offense was unfold all through the lineup as soon as once more as 5 totally different gamers discovered the again of the online, led by Connor Lockhart, who had one objective and two assists within the 5-2 triumph.
Maxim Pavlenko made 29 saves for his eighth win of the marketing campaign. The Nailers have secured factors in 9 straight video games (8-0-1), and are actually 18-3-1 for the primary time of their historical past. Wheeling has opened up a five-point lead for the most effective file within the ECHL.
The Nailers got here out flying and turned on the pink mild 3 times earlier than the sport was ten minutes outdated. The first marker got here on the 2:04 mark on a three-way passing play with Logan Pietila, Connor Lockhart, and Matty De St. Phalle. The remaining go went from Lockhart to De St. Phalle, who chipped a shot into the highest shelf from the best fringe of the crease. Lockhart scored objective quantity two on the 8:28 mark, when he clobbered in a one-timer from the left circle, which was arrange by Ryan Mahshie. 1:21 later, Zach Urdahl upped the benefit to 3, when he gloved down an aerial go from Brent Johnson, battled previous the protection, and lifted a backhander over goaltender Nikita Quapp’s proper shoulder.
Both groups put a mark on the board within the center body. The Gargoyles began with their first objective of the match on the 8:59 mark. Tyler Weiss received the puck alongside the best aspect of the objective line, and proceeded to toss a shot towards the online, which bounced off of Maxim Pavlenko’s left arm and in. Wheeling regained its three-goal lead with 3:30 remaining. Lockhart and Pietila have been alone behind the protection, and the one query was would find yourself taking the shot. The reply was Pietila, who shoveled a shot up and underneath the crossbar from the left aspect of the slot.
Greensboro quickly pulled inside two when David Gagnon cleaned up the rebound of Anthony Rinaldi’s breakaway. However, the Nailers formally put the sport away with Ryan Mahshie’s empty netter for a 5-2 remaining rating.
Maxim Pavlenko earned his fourth straight win and third of the week, as he blocked away 29 of the 31 pictures he confronted for Wheeling. Nikita Quapp made 29 saves on 33 pictures within the loss for the Gargoyles.
The Nailers will play their subsequent six video games on the street, beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Reading.
NAILERS 3, GARGOYLES 1 (SATURDAY)
The Nailers had a number of magic tips up their sleeves on Saturday evening to have fun Wizards & Wands: Spells within the Snow at WesBanco Arena in opposition to the Greensboro Gargoyles.
The first trick was making an early deficit disappear. Then, Matty De St. Phalle made hundreds of teddy bears fly onto the ice for the group’s annual Teddy Bear Toss. Finally, Taylor Gauthier became a brick wall in his return to the lineup, as Wheeling was victorious, 3-1.
Gauthier made his season debut for Wheeling and delivered one other nice efficiency, as he denied 22 of the 23 pictures he confronted. Ruslan Khazheyev made 23 saves on 25 pictures within the loss for the Gargoyles.