Published: March 07, 2009 12:29 am      

Nailers use first-period blitz to rout Chiefs

WHEELING, W.Va. — Wheeling provided a rude welcome back to Chiefs goaltender Sebastian Dahm, who was reassigned to Johnstown on Thursday by the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch.

The Nailers routed the visiting Chiefs 6-1 on Friday night at WesBanco Arena.

Dahm allowed three goals on Wheeling’s first seven shots before coach Ian Herbers put Ian Keserich in net.

The Nailers’ Jon D’Aversa netted his first with Wheeling only 1:38 into the game. Morrison scored at 5:49, and leading-scorer Bryan Ewing netted his 37th of the season at 15:34.

In the second, Ewing scored his 38th at 15:12.

The Nailers added third-period goals by D’Aversa and D Krantz to lead 6-0 before Johnstown’s Blair Yaworski scored his 12th of the season to snap Curtis Darling’s shutout bid at 13:09 of the third. Darling had 39 saves.

Wheeling outshot the Chiefs 42-40.

Johnstown misfired on three power-play attempts. The Nailers went 2-of-8.

The teams meet again tonight at WesBanco.