Nailers Earn 500th Win at WesBanco Arena

WHEELING, WV- The Wheeling Nailers picked up their 500th win at WesBanco Arena on Wednesday night, and although it took some extra time, it was certainly worth the wait. Garrett Meurs, Jeff Taylor, and Riley Bourbonnais scored in regulation, which ended in a 3-3 deadlock, before the penalty kill put on a show for 4:22 in overtime, leading to a shootout. Hunter Fejes netted the winning goal in the fourth round for the Nailers, and Sean Maguire locked up the triumph with a save, as Wheeling defeated the Worcester Railers, 4-3.

The Nailers surrendered the game's opening goal, but rebounded to take a lead into the first intermission. Worcester's tally came off of a face-off win by Chris Langkow, who teed up Josh Monk for a slap shot from the right circle. Wheeling answered a little less than five minutes later, while playing on the man advantage. Cam Brown capitalized on a turnover, and fed a pass to Garrett Meurs, who blew in a wrist shot from the left circle. The Nailers took the lead with 5:30 left in the stanza. Cody Wydo led an odd-man rush down the left side of the ice, before dropping off a pass in the circle. Jeff Taylor walked onto the puck, shoveling his shot through Eamon McAdam and into the cage.

One goal was scored in the middle frame, and it was a power play marker by the Railers, who pulled even at two. Patrick McNally dished a pass to Wade Murphy, who let a shot go from the right side. Sean Maguire made the save, but the rebound was swatted in by Ashton Rome at the 14:43 mark.

Wheeling regained the lead at the 5:29 mark of the third period. Nick Sorkin fed a pass out of the right corner to Riley Bourbonnais in the slot. Bourbonnais took advantage of his opportunity, lifting a shot into the top-left corner of the goal. However, Worcester battled back to force extra hockey, as Nick Saracino found Chris Langkow for a one-timer from the inner edge of the right circle.

Overtime featured one of the more epic penalty kills by the Nailers, who were shorthanded for 4:22 of the five-minute frame. Wheeling blocked shot after shot, limiting the Railers to just two attempts on goal, and sending the contest to a shootout.

Both teams came up empty in the first two rounds, before Garrett Meurs of the Nailers and Frankie DiChiara exchanged goals in round three. Hunter Fejes put Wheeling ahead, ringing a shot in off of the post in the fourth round, and Sean Maguire put the game into the win column with a left pad save on Wade Murphy.

Sean Maguire backstopped the win in goal for the Nailers, turning aside 28 of 31 shots during the game, and then three of four in the shootout. Eamon McAdam took the shootout loss for the Railers, making 26 saves on 29 shots during the game, and two of four in the shootout.

The Nailers will take a quick trip to Cincinnati on Friday for a 2:35 game, before returning home to battle the Railers again on Saturday at 7:05. Saturday is Teddy Bear Toss Night - bring a new or gently used stuffed animal, and throw it on the ice when the Nailers score their first goal. The next big promotional game is Star Wars Night on December 2nd, when the first 2,500 fans receive a light saber. To purchase tickets, or to get more information about season tickets, flex plans, group tickets, and more, call (304) 234-GOAL.