After being on the road for their first seven games of the season, the Wheeling Nailers finally returned home to WesBanco Arena to welcome the Bloomington Bison on Saturday night. In dramatic fashion, the Nailers pulled off an incredible third period to take the game 2-1, sending the Wheeling faithful home happy.
From start to finish, the game was a defense and goaltender’s dual as Jaxon Castor (WHL) and Hugo Ollas (BLM) were terrific between the pipes. Castor was the busier of the two through one period of play as Bloomington held a 10-5 shot advantage through the opening frame.
The game remained scoreless through the first 15:38 of the second until Eddie Matsushima got Bloomington on the board with his first goal of the season off a shorthanded opportunity. The period came to an end with Bloomington up 1-0 and just 20 minutes away from spoiling Wheeling’s home opener.
The Nailers came out flying in the third period, but the Bison’s defense and goaltending did not bend despite giving up 13 shots through 19:30 of the third period. On the 14th shot, the Nailers finally found the back of the net to tie the game at one as Atley Calvert buried home a loose puck right in front of the cage with 28 seconds left in the game. It was an incredible moment for the 21-year-old as not only did he tie the game in a crucial moment, but it was his first professional career goal. With just 13 seconds on the clock, the Nailers pulled off an incredible win as Matthew Quercia buried the game-winning goal.
Castor finished the game, stopping 24 of the 25 shots he faced. Despite taking the loss, Ollas was incredible as he made 27 saves.
Three Stars
First Star – Quercia (GWG)
Second Star – Calvert (1g)
Third Star – Castor (24 saves)
Up Next
The Nailers will travel to Cincinnati, OH, on Wednesday (Nov. 6) to take on the Cincinnati Cyclones. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. EST.
The Bison will welcome the Kalamazoo Wings to Grossinger Motors Arena for the first time on Friday (Nov. 8). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CST.
