The Wheeling Nailers couldn’t hold a late lead as they fell to the undefeated Elmira Jackals Sunday evening at WesBanco Arena by a score of 4-3. Pierce Norton, T.J. Fox, and Joey Haddad all contributed goals for the Nailers. The Jackals improved to 5-0 with the win.

Newcomer Pierce Norton gave the Nailers a 1-0 lead early in the first period as he picked up the puck on the Jackals line, moved in, and slid a backhander past goalie Chris Holt. It was the pro debut for Norton and just his second shift with the Nailers. The South Boston, Mass. resident spent the past four years as a right winger for the Providence College Friars.

The Nailers came out of the first period intermission strong and came close to taking a 2-0 lead when Ryan Schnell appeared to have scored but referee Joe Sullivan ruled the puck had never crossed the line after consulting with the goal judge.

Brendan Connolly jabbed the puck past Burkhoel a few minutes later to put the Jackals on the board and tie the score at 1-1.

T.J. Fox scored a power play goal for the Nailers to put them back on top late in the second period. It was T.J.’s third goal of the season. Assisting on the play were Lane Caffaro and Joey Haddad.

Wheeling entered the third period with a 2-1 lead but the Jackals took advantage of back to back power plays to turn the tables on the Nailers. Right after their first power play expired the puck came onto the stick Brendan Connoly’s stick who was able to light the lamp at 1:55 tying the game at 2-2.

Early in the third period, Brandon Svendsen for the Jackals tied the game at 2-2 shortly after the Nailers had killed off a power play.

Tyler Donati picked up a rebound in the right-wing circle and fired it home to put the Jackals in front on their next man-advantage. Nailers goalie Adam Berkhoel appeared to get a piece of the shot but wasn’t able to turn it away as Elmira led 3-2 at the 7:15 mark.

Wheeling pulled Berkhoel with just under 2 minutes remaining for the extra attacker and gained an even bigger advantage when Elmira was whistled for a delay of game penalty sending the puck out of play from their own zone with 53 seconds to go for a 6-on-4 advantage. But Elmira grabbed the puck shortly thereafter and Chris Korchinski blasted the puck down the ice from his own line and into the empty-net to give Elmira a 4-2 lead.

Joey Haddad took a nice feed from Mitch Ganzak in the right-wing circle and fired it off the far post for his third goal of the season to narrow the margin to 4-3 but it came with 12 seconds remaining. Mitch Ganzak got off one last desperation shot with 1 second left that Jolt turned away to seal the win for the Jackals.

The Nailers hit the road this Wednesday traveling to Trenton, NJ to take on the Devils at 7 p.m. The Nailers return home this Friday and Saturday with a pair of 7:35 games against Kalamazoo and Cincinnati

Nailers Notes:

The Wheeling Nailers booster club are organizing a bus trip to Johnstown on Friday, Nov. 13. A minimum number of fans are required. Sign-up is at the Nailers Booster Club table at Nailers home games. Fans must sign up by Oct. 31.

Wheeling waved Jimmy Sharrow and Chris Cloud before the game. Pierce Norton made his Nailers debut and scored a goal in his second shift.

Wheeling completed their second straight weekend of playing three games in three 3 consecutive nights. The Nailers are also in the middle of a stretch of six games in nine days with upcoming games Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

The Nailers being a 4-game home stand Friday, Oct. 30.

Friday night is the first ever game between the Nailers and the ECHL’s newest member, the Kalamazoo Wings. It’s WTRF-Friday Family 4-Pace night. Get 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs and 4 sodas all for $44. It will also be Wheeling’s second consecutive home game against an unbeaten opponent as the Wings have started the season at 5-0.

Saturday is the Safe Trick or Treat Halloween Party at WesBanco Arena. Free candy for the kids in their trick or treat outside the arena before the game and then the Nailers and the Cincinnati Cyclones battle at 7:35 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 6 against the South Carolina Stingrays is Team Autograph night and another WTRF-Friday Family four-pack night. It’s also a West Virginia Lottery Night with adult Nailers tickets discounted when you present a non-winning West Virginia Lottery Ticket.

Saturday, Nov. 7 against the Johnstown Chiefs wraps up the four-game home stand.