11:00 sports: Everblades season comes to an end and more

Brian Foster stopped 43 out of 44 shots on net leading the Wheeling Nailers to the 2-1 victory over the Florida Everblades in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at Germain Arena Monday Night.  Wheeling claims the best-of-seven series 4-2.

The Everblades dominated the first period of play out shooting the Nailers 11-5 and scoring the first goal of the game just before the end of the period.

17:34 into the opening period Ryan Martindale led a 2-on-1 charge into the Nailers offensive zone. Martinidale waited till the last second to pass it across to Mike Cornell who finished off the charge slapping the puck past Wheeling netminder Brian Foster to give the Everblades the 1-0 lead heading into the second period.

In the second period the ‘Blades continued their shooting barrage out shooting the Nailers 18-7 in the second, however, the Nailers were the ones scoring the only goal of the period tying the game up.

16:22 into the second frame Ty Loney riffled the puck from the right hash near the slot and clipped in the far right corner of the net  past Rasmus Tirronen to tie the game up at one heading to the third period.

The battle continued deep into the third period the Everblades and Nailers traded scoring opportunities, but it was the Nailers that got the final goal in the game halfway through the period.

Halfway through the final period of play Jordan Kwas wrapped around the net and passed the puck across the crease to Shane Bakker who tapped it in on the backside of the net to put the Nailers in front 2-1.

Florida continued to pepper Foster with shots and scoring chances, but Foster refused to allow the equalizer to preserve the Wheeling win 2-1 to claim the series and advance.

Brian Foster earned the victory stopping 43 out of 44 shots on net while Rasmus Tirronen takes the loss despite a solid effort allowing two goals on 22 shots.

Wheeling will face the winner of tomorrow’s Game 7 between the Toledo Walleye and the Reading Royals.