ESTERO, FL- The Wheeling Nailers experienced some early jitters in game one of the Eastern Conference Final Series on Friday night against the Florida Everblades.
Wheeling held the Everblades off of the scoreboard for the final 53 minutes of the contest, but two early goals ended up being enough to lift Florida to the 2-1 decision at Hertz Arena. Matty De St. Phalle scored the lone goal of the night for the Nailers.
The Everblades got off to a quick start in the game, as they scored twice during the opening seven minutes of action. The first marker came off of a Wheeling turnover at the 3:40 mark, as the Nailers tried to send the puck up the middle in their defensive zone. Cole Moberg made the steal at the center point, then immediately tossed in a wrist shot to put the home team on the scoreboard. 3:09 later, Florida made a full-ice two-on-one rush to pot its second goal.
Jesse Lansdell led the charge on the left side, then swept a cross-ice feed over to Tarun Fizer, who wired in a one-timer from the right side of the slot.
The Nailers shook off the tough beginning to the game, and kept the Everblades’ offense at bay for the remainder of the evening. Wheeling received a tremendous opportunity to get onto the scoreboard in the late stages of the second period, when Florida’s Jesse Lansdell received a major penalty for charging and a game misconduct for a hit on Brent Johnson.
Unfortunately, the Nailers were unable to capitalize, and the score remained 2-0.
Wheeling finally broke through with its first tally of the series at the 9:12 mark of the third period. Alexander Kuqali centered a pass into the slot for Matty De St. Phalle, who whipped a shot through Cam Johnson’s legs. The Nailers had multiple offensive zone face-offs with the goaltender pulled for the extra attacker in the closing minutes, but a tying goal wasn’t in the cards, as the Everblades held on for the 2-1 victory.
Cam Johnson made 24 saves on 25 shots in the win for Florida. Taylor Gauthier stopped 21 of the 23 shots he faced for Wheeling.
The Nailers and Everblades will get right back at it in Florida for game two of the Eastern Conference Final Series on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. The series will then shift to WesBanco Arena in Wheeling for games three, four, and five (if necessary) on Wednesday May 27th, Friday, May 29th, and Saturday, May 30th. All home matches in the series will begin at 7:10 p.m.
Games six and seven (both if necessary) would return to Florida’s Hertz Arena on Monday, June 1st and Wednesday, June 3rd. Both of those contests would start at 7:30 p.m.
layoff tickets are available now by calling (304) 234-GOAL or visiting wheelingnailers.com. The Wheeling Nailers, considered one of the top things to do in Wheeling, West Virginia, provide affordable family entertainment for fans throughout the Ohio Valley.
