Jackals Spiked by Nailers

ELMIRA, N.Y. - The Elmira Jackals suffered their most lopsided loss of the season on Sunday at First Arena. The Wheeling Nailers skated away with a 7-0 win and dropped the Jackals' record to 20-25-6 on the season.

Click here for tonight's box score.

The first period got off to an inauspicious start for the Jackals when the Nailers scored on their second shot of the game. Zach Torquato pump faked a slap shot from the slot and shifted to his right to dodge a defender. He then launched a wrist shot that caught goalie Neil Conway leaning the wrong way and scored his 12th of the season at 1:18. The Jackals counterpunched with the next six shots on goal, but Wheeling goalie Kieran Millan weathered the storm and set the stage for Wheeling's major surge. Barry Goers, Colin Mulvey and Cody Sylvester each scored in a span of 3:55 and took the wind out of Elmira's sails. The Nailers outshot Elmira 17-9 in the first and never looked back.

Elmira was at its most assertive in the attack zone during the second period and managed to send 10 shots on Millan, who made his second start in a Nailers uniform. Millan handled the heavier workload and received more goal support when Denver Manderson cashed in a breakaway goal. Shane Bakker split the defense with a long stretch pass that sent Manderson in all alone. He launched a shot over Conway's glove and just under the crossbar at the 10:43 mark for his ninth goal of the season.

Elmira wasn't able to get its offense on track in the third period and put just four shots Milan's way. On the other end of the ice the Nailers picked up markers from Sylvester at 12:02 and Carter Rowney at 18:37 to further distance themselves from the Jackals.

Conway took the loss for the second game in a row with a 31-save effort. Elmira was 0-for-2 on the power play and 0-for-1 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Jackals return to home ice on Friday, February 28 to take on the Wheeling Nailers. Don't forget that groups of 10 or more who book in advance receive discounts off the box office price and preferred seating based on availability. Call 607-734-7825 to get your group outing booked.