Nailers Down Division Foe Johnstown

Don't try to tell Wheeling Nailers coach Greg Puhalski winning doesn't matter in the preseason. As a matter of fact, there are about a million other things he'd rather do than lose.

''I don't care if me and you are going to go play golf tomorrow, I've got the belief that I'm going to beat you,'' he said. ''We're all competitive - that's the reason I got into sports.

''The purpose is to win, and it's always a nice feeling when you're able to do it.''

Luckily for him, he doesn't have to worry about the alternatives right now.

Rob Sirianni had a goal and two assists and Jon Grecu notched the game-winner 1:39 into the overtime period as the Nailers opened their two-game preseason schedule with a 4-3 victory against North Division rival Johnstown on Friday night at WesBanco Arena.

The same two teams will play tonight in Johnstown, but the Nailers' lineup will have a drastically different look, as Puhalski plans to play several new players.

''We're going to give a few more guys - about seven other guys we're going to slide into the lineup and give them a chance to get some ice time,'' he said. ''For a lot of players we have, whenever they go into visiting arenas, it's going to be a different experience for them.

''A lot of buildings they've probably never seen before, but they'll get to know them very well. Especially in our division.''

The new version of the Nailers showed plenty of grit in its debut, as well as a willingness to play defense and get to loose pucks in the corners. The results were two third-period goals that erased a 3-1 deficit, and a measly 21 shots on goal for the Chiefs. There were some games last season when the opposition recorded nearly that many in one period, so that was one area in particular Puhalski had in mind when putting this team together.

''I would definitely take that,'' he said. ''We want to make it a 'corner' game. If I had my druthers that's where I would like to play the game for our team.

''What it does is it sets your the team up for playoff time. It seems like there's more corner play and little battles. So if you're more accustomed to playing that way, you will benefit greatly from that.''

Johnstown scored the game's first two goals, both in the first period. One came on a 5-on-3 power play, just as the first penalty was expiring, and the second was the only one goaltender Curtis Darling would like to have back,

''He made the saves he had to,'' Puhalski said. ''He didn't see a lot of action, especially in the second half of the game.

''I'm sure he would tell you it was a little different than what he saw the last two months of last season.''

The Nailers got on the board with 1 second remaining on a Chiefs penalty to cut the deficit to 2-1. Jordan Morrison, assigned to the team a day earlier by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Jonathan Ornelas were credited with assists.

Mike Night gave Johnstown its two-goal lead back with another power-play goal, this one at 13:54 of the second, which is the way it stood after two.

''We just kept our nose to the grindstone and that's always a good thing,'' Puhalski said.

Wheeling defenseman Doug Krantz took a nice feed in the midslot from Cedrick Bernier and buried it to make it 3-2 at 6:45 of the third, and the Nailers tied it at 13:55 on a power-play goal from Morrison, with assists to Sirianni and Mike Gooch.

That set the stage for Grecu, who walked down into the slot and let a wrister go that beat Chiefs goaltender Kris Mayotte.

''It was nice to see all lines contribute offensively and everyone kind of shared the wealth,'' Puhalksi said. ''Get it to the net - get it on the net - and if there's a rebound be there Johnny on the spot.

''The more rebound goals you get, I think it's a good indication to what kind of team you have.''

Johnstown2 1 0 0 - 3

Wheeling0 1 2 1 - 4

First Period: Scoring - 1. Johnstown, D. Maiani (1) (A. Sarauer, J. Olson) 3:06 PP; 2. Johnstown, M. McCutcheon (1) (R. Del Monte) 12:16; Penalties - C. Bernier Whl (high-sticking - minor 60.2) 1:01, A. Lord Whl (slashing - minor 61.2) 1:07, D. Maiani Jhn (interference - minor 56.2) 3:59, C. Loya Whl (hooking - minor 55.2) 7:25, J. Olson Jhn (hooking - minor 55.2) 13:31, C. Loya Whl (interference - minor 56.2) 14:43, T. Collingham Whl (hooking - minor 55.2) 19:14.

Second Period: Scoring - 3. Wheeling, R. Sirianni (1) (J. Morrison, J. Ornelas) 7:09 PP; 4. Johnstown, M. Knight (1) (C. Pettapiece, K. Bushee) 13:54 PP; Penalties - M. Bartlett Jhn (cross-checking minor 59.2) 5:10, M. Knight Jhn (fighting - major 47.13) 5:48, M. Nebus Whl (fighting - major 47.13) 5:48, R. Sirianni Whl (hooking - minor 55.2) 11:56, M. Gooch Whl (cross-checking minor 59.2) 13:43, D. Maiani Jhn (tripping - minor 57.2) 15:09, J. Landry Jhn (hooking - minor 55.2) 17:53.

Third Period: Scoring - 5. Wheeling, D. Krantz (1) (C. Bernier, J. Bernier) 6:45; 6. Wheeling, J. Morrison (1) (R. Sirianni, M. Gooch) 13:35 PP; Penalties - M. Knight Jhn (interference - minor 56.2) 3:57, B. Wilson Jhn (slashing - minor 61.2) 7:34, J. Landry Jhn (delay of game 63.2) 12:52, D. Maiani Jhn (holding - minor 54.2) 16:37

Overtime Period: Scoring - 7. Wheeling, J. Grecu (1) (M. Gooch, T. Collingham) 1:39 PP; Penalties - J. Landry Jhn (hooking - minor 55.2) 0:00

JHN Shots: 6 6 9 0 TOTAL: 21; WHL Shots: 11 9 12 1 TOTAL: 33

Power Play Conversion: Johnstown2-7, Wheeling 3-10.

Goaltenders: Johnstown Mayotte 0-0-1-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 63:21 SV: 29 GA: 4 (L); Wheeling Darling 1-0-0-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 63:21 SV: 18 GA: 3 (W)

Referee : Barry Pochmara (10); Linesmen: Justin Eckman (72), Ray King (39).