Nailers Earn Six of Eight Points on Road Trip

ELMIRA, NY- The Wheeling Nailers earned six out of eight possible points on their four-game road trip through the Empire State. On Sunday afternoon, Wheeling erased five separate one-goal deficits, but was unable to pull ahead. At the 1:21 mark of overtime, the Elmira Jackals secured the bonus point, as Ian Young finished off a 2-on-1 rush with Kyle Rankin for a 6-5 final score. Kale Kerbashian had two goals for the Nailers, giving him seven points in four games during the week.

The first period featured a pair of leads for the Jackals in a somewhat offensive period, which saw them take a 2-1 lead into the intermission. The first goal came at the 4:47 mark. Casey Thrush battled his way through a delayed penalty, poking a shot on goal, then reaching out and flicking the rebound into the right side of the net. With 3:42 remaining in the stanza, the Nailers converted on the power play to tie the score. Alexandre Carrier set up Kale Kerbashian, who curled the puck to the left side of the slot, before ripping a wrist shot into the top-right corner of the cage. Elmira regained the lead 1:27 later, when Sebastien Sylvestre tipped in Nathan Moon's attempt from the right circle.

The scoring increased in the middle frame, as Wheeling continued to answer the Jackals goal for goal. The Nailers got their first equalizer of the period at the 4:38 mark, when Tyler Currier dropped a pass to Garrett Meurs, who blazed in a wrist shot from the left circle. Shortly after the midway mark of the stanza, Elmira went back on top, as Sylvestre converted on a breakaway for his second tally of the day. The answering goal came exactly six minutes later, when Kevin Schulze lunged forward in the right circle, willing in the rebound of Ryan Segalla's left point wrister. 21 seconds after that, the Jackals took their fourth lead, when Kenton Miller finished off a three-way passing play with Nathan Moon and Ian Young. With 1:53 to go, Schulze drove a shot off of the end wall, producing a big rebound, which was deposited by Gage Quinney on the right side of the crease.

The back-and-forth battle continued in period three. Miller's second of the afternoon put Elmira in the lead at the 5:07 mark, before Kerbashian's patience allowed him to roof a wrist shot from the top of the left circle, forcing overtime with 11:21 left in regulation.

In the extra session, the Jackals came away victorious. Kyle Rankin led a 2-on-1 rush on the left side of the ice, ultimately setting up Ian Young, who punched in a one-timer from the right side for a 6-5 win in favor of the home team.

Andy Iles got the win for Elmira, making 24 saves on 29 shots. Doug Carr took the overtime loss for Wheeling, giving up six goals on 33 shots.

The Nailers will return to WesBanco Arena for a three-game homestand on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday against the Idaho Steelheads. First up is a WesBanco Winning Wednesday on March 22nd, Then, a Flat Screen Friday and Frosty Friday on the 24th. Finally, the 25th is Nailers Fight Cancer Night. Special jerseys will be worn, with proceeds going to the Team Ryan Charitable Foundation, there will be a team trading card set giveaway, and a post game autograph session with the entire squad, plus it will be Ladies Night. To purchase tickets, or to get more information about season tickets, group tickets, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL.