ECHL Weekend Recap: Wheeling Nailers vs. Worcester Railers | 01/11-01/12/25

For the first time this season, the Wheeling Nailers and Worcester Railers battled out a two-game weekend set. Despite being a mid-pack team, the Railers made it a difficult weekend for the Nailers, splitting the weekend series with both games being decided by one goal.

Wheeling Nailers (4) vs. Worcester Railers (3) SO Final 1/11/25

One of the top Pittsburgh Penguins‘ prospects in Sergei Murashov got the start on Saturday night. He made 29 saves and stopped two of the three shootout attempts he faced in the win. Hugo Ollas picked up the loss for the Railers, but was tremendous as he made 31 saves.

The Railers got off to a hot start just 2:54 into the game as Anthony Repaci opened the scoring. Ryan Dickinson and Jordan Kaplan picked up the assists. With just under four minutes to go in the opening period, Chris Ortiz tied the game at one. Jack Beck, who has been heating up over the last few games, and Kyle Jackson tallied the assists. It did not take long for the Railers to regain their lead as JD Dudek made it a 2-1 game just 52 seconds later. Justin Gill had the lone assist.

Unlike the first period, the middle frame was very defensively heavy as both teams were limiting shot chances. With 15 minutes gone by in the second period, the Nailers made it a 2-2 game thanks to Matt Koopman. With just 35 seconds to go, the pesky Railers team took the lead for the third time. Griffin Loughran tallied the go-ahead goal.

In the third period, shots were being fired at both sides of the ice. It took 10:41 for a team to find the back of the net. Gabe Klassen tallied his eighth goal of the season to bring the Nailers level for the third time. After neither team could find the back of the net for the remainder of the third period and overtime, the two teams went to a shootout.

Connor Welsh scored the lone goal for the Railers, while David Jankowski and Beck scored for the Nailers.

Wheeling Nailers (1) vs. Worcester Railers (2) Final 1/12/25

On Sunday afternoon, Taylor Gauthier (WHL) and Michael Bullion (WOR) went head-to-head in what was a battle between the goaltenders. On the losing side of the game, Gauthier stopped 27 of 29 shots he saw. Bullion was fantastic, stopping 33 of the 34 shots he saw.

Only one team saw the back of the net through two periods of play, as the Railers took a 2-0 lead into the final frame. Justin Gill opened the scoring at 10:18 of the first period. Anthony Callin’s ninth goal of the season came at 1:22 of the second period, with Gill tallying his second point of the night with the primary assist, and JD Dudek picking up his second assist of the game.

Down by two goals, the Nailers needed something early in the third period. Logan Pietila gave them just that as he got them on the board just 40 seconds into the third period. Gabe Klassen and Louie Roehl picked up the assists. Despite the 11 shots on goal in the third period and keeping the Railers to just three shots on goal, Wheeling was unable to solve Bullion as they came away with a tight 2-1 win.

Whats Next?

These two clubs will meet once again on Saturday and Sunday (Jan. 18-19) at DCU Center in Worcester, MA. Prior to that, the Railers will welcome the Adirondack Thunder on Friday night (Jan. 17).