ECHL Game Recap: Wheeling Nailers vs Kalamazoo Wings | 12/06/2024

On Friday night, a red-hot Wheeling Nailers team hosted the Kalamazoo Wings at WesBanco Arena. The Nailers (12-3-1-0) came into the game with an eight-game winning streak, and first place in the North Division. The Wings (5-11-1-0) came into the game on different circumstances. They had lost their last seven games, which included back-to-back 5-0 losses to the Florida Everblades and Cincinnati Cyclones.

Game Recap

The opening frame was heavily controlled by the Nailers as they held a 17-8 shot advantage. Despite the shot margin, Kalamazoo took a 1-0 lead into the locker room. A dump and chase by the Wings allowed Ted Nichol to cut off a passing lane to gain control of the puck. Passing it off the Ayden MacDonald, he skating to the front of the net and beat Sergei Murashov five hole.

At 4:19 of the second period, Wheeling knotted the game at one. A failed backhand clearance attempt from the Wings landed right on the tape of Jack Beck. Rather than shooting, Beck found Kyle Jackson with a wide open net on the backdoor, dishing him a pass to bury into the back of the net.

Kalamazoo dicted the play in the second period. Murashov came up with big saves as he stopped all 16 shots he faced in the middle frame. Jonathan Lemieux was spectacular as well as he stopped 10 of the 11 shots he saw in the period.

At 9:51 of the third period, Travis Broughman put Kalamazoo back in front. After dancing around the defender with a silky-smooth move, Broughman want backhand to his forehand, shoveling a shot past Murashov.

At 14:05, Wheeling tied the game back up. From above the left-wing circle, Jordan Martel received a pass from Chris Ortiz, riffling a one-time shot past Lemieux. Just under three minutes later, Wheeling took it’s first lead of the game Martel found Sam Houde all alone in the high slot and dished him a pass to blister it into the net on the glove side of Lemieux.

With 34 seconds to go, Jagger Joshua capped off the night with an empty-net goal.

Game Stats

Shots

Wheeling: 41

Kalamazoo: 33

Powerplays

Wheeling: 1/4

Kalamazoo: 0/1

Three Stars

1. Sam Houde (GWG)
2. Jordan Martel (1g,1a)
3. Sergei Murashov (31 SVs)

Next Up

Wheeling will travel to Cincinnati on Saturday for a 4 pm matchup with the Cincinnati Cyclones. Kalamazoo heads to Fort Wayne, Indiana to face the Komets. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:35 pm.