Wheeling Nailers Cruise to 4-1 Win Over Elmira Jackals

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -Elmira, NY - The Wheeling Nailers got back on the winning track with one of their best games of the season in a 4-1 pasting of the Elmira Jackals Friday night in Elmira, NY. The three goal margin represents the biggest win of the season for the Nailers who got goals from Thomas Beauregard (12), Chris Capraro (2), Aaron Clarke (4) and Slavomir Tomko (2).

Goalie Adam Berkhoel’s bid for a shutout was spoiled late in the 3^rd period on a goal by Olivier Proulx with 7:07 remaining in the game. The Nailers held Elmira to 0-for-11 on the power play. It was probably Berkhoel’s best game of the year as he turned aside 20 of Elmira’s 21 shots. He received #1 Star of the Game honors making several spectacular stops. Berkhoel improved to 4-3-1 with the win and for a goalie recovering from a couple of injuries showed terrific flexibility in his many kick saves.

Wheeling improves to 6-9-2 with the win and owns a winning record on the road of 5-4-0. Elmira falls to 9-5-3.

Four out of Wheeling’s 5 previous wins had been decided in overtime or shootouts. Their lone victory that was not a one goal game had been their first of the year October 18^th in a 3-1 decision at Gwinnett.

Beauregard moved into a tie for 3^rd in the league with his 12^th goal of the season. His power play tally in the first period came on a nice feed from the right-wing corner by Cleve Kinley.

Later in the period Chris Capraro and Chris Davis raced up the ice. Davis took the initial shot off the left-leg of Jackals netminder Michael-Lee Teslak but Capraro was there to scoop up the rebound behind the goalie and fire it into the net on a sharp angle for his 2^nd of the year giving the Nailers a 2-0 lead.

Shortly after Wheeling had killed off the first part of an Elmira 5-on-3 advantage the Nailers were able to build on their lead with a shorthanded goal. Kyle Bushee fell in the corner of his own zone but was able to hand-pass the puck along the wall to teammate Blair Yaworski who rifled a rink-wide pass to Aaron Clarke. The shot from the left-wing face-off dot appeared to glance off the stick of Teslak but still had enough to get into the net for a 3-0 lead. It was just the 2^nd shorthanded goal of the season for the Nailers and dampened the Jackals spirits shortly after they had come tantalizingly close to making it a 2-1 game instead.

Late in the 2^nd period Chris Capraro dove behind the Elmira line to steal the puck from a couple Jackals skaters and got it to Mitch Ganzak who centered to Slavomir Tomko in the high slot. Tomko sent a low and hard shot into the corner for his 2^nd goal of the season to stretch the lead to 4-0. Tomko is a native of Slovakia who has 2 goals in 4 games since joining the Nailers off the injured-reserve list. Both of Tomko’s goals have come against his former team in Elmira.

Elmira appeared to have broken up the shutout midway through the 3^rd on a power-play goal but the referee ruled it off deciding that the puck had not crossed the goal-line. Elmira would later break the shutout bid of Berkhoel as Chance Fitzpatrick blasted a slapshot from the right wing that was saved by Berkhoel but allowed Olivier Proulx to slam home the rebound for his 7^th of the year.

 Wheeling went 1-for-9 on the power play while Elmira was 0-for-11. Wheeling’s penalty-kill had struggled at the beginning of the season but had played much better in recent games. But tonight’s performance by the P.K. was easily the best of the year as they handcuffed the potent Jackals offense.

Wheeling is 2-2 against Elmira this year. The Nailers and Jackals don’t see each other for another month when Elmira comes to Wheeling for a December 27^th contest.

Saturday night the Nailers take on the Cincinnati Cyclones on Pink in the Rink at 8:05pm. $2 from special tickets sold will go to benefit breast cancer patients of the Ohio Valley as well as proceeds from the post-game jersey auction where you can buy the special pink Nailers jerseys right off the players’ backs. It’s also George Kellas bobblehead night for the first 2500 hands honoring the great area sportscaster. And bring your new teddy bears and stuffed animals to throw on the ice after the Nailers score their first goal. The annual Nailers Teddy-Bear Toss is always a blast and the donations go to benefit area kids. 

Sunday night the Nailers wrap up the big week with another game against Cincinnati at 6:35pm. Wear an NFL jersey to the game and get a special discounted adult ticket for only $10. It’s Sunday Family FunDay featuring a post-game skate with the Nailers players. Be sure to bring your skates and gloves…and don’t forget the camera! 

Nailers hockey is always the most awesome family entertainment value in town and we want you there cheering on your hometown team.
Take advantage of the Nailers new $87 package for 7 Nailers home games.Kids tickets are always $5 and students get in for only $7. Call the Wheeling Nailers at (304) 234-GOAL, that's 234-4625. Or log on to wheelingnailers.com for more information.

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