WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers ran into one difficult period in their game on Friday night, and it ended up creating a large difference on the scoreboard. After Cody Wydo opened the scoring for the Nailers, the Toledo Walleye rattled off five consecutive goals in the middle frame, then added one more in the third period, compiling a 6-1 victory at WesBanco Arena.
Both teams accumulated 14 shots on goal in the first period, and Wheeling had two great chances. Cal Heeter gloved a Josh Shalla attempt from the left circle, then squeezed the leg pads shut, when Garrett Meurs broke in down the middle.
Things looked promising in the opening minutes of the middle stanza, as the Nailers got on the board first. Cody Wydo and Nick Sorkin broke in 2-on-1, with Wydo keeping the puck to himself, and beating Heeter through the legs. Unfortunately, the rest of the celebrations went the other way. Tylor Spink got Toledo's first goal, when he snared a loose puck on the left side of the slot, stashing it inside the right post. AJ Jenks put the Walleye ahead 1:47 later, tipping in a point shot from Jacob MacDonald on the power play. Goal three came 19 seconds after that, when Nolan Zajac slid home a dish from Mathew Santos. The Spink twins connected for the next marker, with Tyson feeding Tylor for his second of the night. With 1:25 left, Erik Bradford redirected in Dane Walters' shot, completing a five-goal second period.
Toledo added one more goal in the third period, when Jacob MacDonald drilled a shot off into the top-left corner and off of the water bottle for a 6-1 final score.
Cal Heeter had his best game of the season, earning his fourth straight win for Toledo, as he stopped 30 of the 31 shots he faced. Doug Carr took the loss for Wheeling, allowing six goals on 33 shots.
The Nailers will look to get back at the Walleye on Saturday night in Toledo at 7:15. Wheeling will then return home on Sunday at 5:05 to face the Kalamazoo Wings on a Family Funday, with McDonald's $6 kids tickets and a post game skate with the team (odd numbered players). The first celebrity appearance is less than a month away, when Clint Hurdle comes to WesBanco Arena for Pittsburgh Pirates Night on December 3rd. To purchase tickets, or to get information about season tickets, mini plans, group tickets, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL.
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