Nailers vs. Stingrays Game Day Snap Shot
April 23, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL) - Wheeling Nailers News Release
WHEELING NAILERS
(2-0)
6 GF, 2 GA
PP: 20.0% (2-for-10), T-5th
PK: 100.0% (8-for-8), T-1st
98-F-Chaz Johnson (2 goals, 2 points in 2 games)
27-F-Denver Manderson (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points in 2 games)
2-D-Mike Ratchuk (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points in 2 games)
21-F-Sahir Gill (2 assists, 2 points in 2 games)
7-F-Max MacKay (2 assists, 2 points in 2 games)
1-G-Mike Condon (2-0 record, 0.92 GAA, .967 Sv% in 2 games)
(39-27-1-5, 84 PTS, #6 Seed)
216 GF, 196 GA
PP: 16.3% (40-for-245), 10th
PK: 84.5% (246-for-291), 13th
21-F-Sahir Gill (13 goals, 41 assists, 54 points in 67 games)
15-F-Zack Torquato (14 goals, 38 assists, 52 points in 44 games)
2-D-Mike Ratchuk (15 goals, 29 assists, 44 points in 69 games)
16-F-Cody Sylvester (24 goals, 18 assists, 42 points in 49 games)
7-F-Max MacKay (17 goals, 25 assists, 42 points in 60 games)
98-F-Chaz Johnson (13 goals, 21 assists, 34 points in 64 games)
27-F-Denver Manderson (11 goals, 18 assists, 29 points in 27 games)
1-G-Mike Condon (23-12-4 record, 2.18 GAA, .931 Sv% in 39 games)
SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS
(0-2)
2 GF, 6 GA
PP: 0.0% (0-for-8), T-11th
PK: 80.0% (8-for-10), T-12th
3-D-Luka Vidmar (1 goal, 1 point in 1 game)
20-F-Jack Downing (1 goal, 1 point in 2 games)
4 players tied (1 assist, 1 point in 2 games)
1-G-Allen York (0-1 record, 3.00 GAA, .909 Sv% in 1 game)
(42-23-2-4, 92 PTS, #3 Seed)
197 GF, 173 GA
PP: 17.4% (45-for-258), 5th
PK: 84.6% (193-for-228), 10th
16-F-Dale Mitchell (19 goals, 26 assists, 45 points in 50 games)
19-F-Wayne Simpson (22 goals, 19 assists, 41 points in 66 games)
22-F-Patrick Gaul (12 goals, 19 assists, 31 points in 67 games)
20-F-Jack Downing (16 goals, 9 assists, 25 points in 43 games)
18-F-Igor Gongalsky (7 goals, 16 assists, 23 points in 44 games)
8-F-Jordan Owens (7 goals, 11 assists, 18 points in 18 games)
25-D-Dylan King (3 goals, 11 assists, 14 points in 68 games)
1-G-Allen York (11-7-1 record, 2.87 GAA, .903 Sv% in 20 games)
Head-to-Head
Playoff Series: Nailers 2, Stingrays 0
Playoff Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 0, Stingrays 0
Season Series: Stingrays 1, Nailers 0
Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 0, Stingrays 0
All-Time Series (Regular Season + Playoff): Nailers 14, Stingrays 10
All-Time Series at WesBanco Arena (Regular Season + Playoff): Nailers 6, Stingrays 4
Capitalizing at the Coliseum
The Wheeling Nailers got off to a tremendous start in their best-of-seven series against the South Carolina Stingrays, as they won both contests played at North Charleston Coliseum. After picking up a 3-0 victory on Friday, the Nailers were forced to come from behind twice on Saturday, as South Carolina built 1-0 and 2-1 leads on goals by Luka Vidmar and Jack Downing. However, Wheeling was able to battle back on both occasions, courtesy of Denver Manderson and Chaz Johnson, as overtime became necessary to determine a winner. With 9:53 gone by in the extra session, that winner was the Nailers, as Tom Kuhnhackl roofed his first goal of the series.
First Visit in 15 Months
Wheeling and South Carolina are the two longest active teams in the ECHL, but one wouldn't necessarily know that, if they looked at the all-time series. Despite being in the league for 22 and 21 years respectively, the Nailers and Stingrays have only clashed on 18 occasions during the regular season, with eight taking place at WesBanco Arena. In fact, South Carolina will be making its first visit to West Virginia since January 13th, 2013, when the Nailers came out on top, 5-0, led by Christiaan Minella's two goals. Only five players from that game (W- Minella, Torquato; S- Gaul, Quick Vidmar) are on the active playoff rosters for the two clubs.
Overtime Was Outstanding
At the 9:53 mark of overtime on Saturday, Tom Kuhnhackl broke a 2-2 deadlock, lifting the Nailers to a 3-2 victory and a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Series. That scenario marked the third time in four playoff games in North Charleston that overtime was required to determine a contest between the Nailers and Stingrays, with all three triumphs going Wheeling's way. In 2011, Andrew Orpik and Kyle Bushee delivered overtime goals, also helping the Nailers to a 2-0 series lead. The Nailers are 10-9 all-time in playoff overtime, going 5-1 in their last six. During the 2013-14 regular season, Wheeling was 6-1 during the five-minute extra session.
Two Goalies, One Crease
During the first two games of the series, the Stingrays have turned to two different goaltenders, as Allen York got the nod in game one, followed by Pheonix Copley in game two. York made 30 saves in his start on Friday, following an 11-7-1 record in 20 games during the regular season. On Saturday, Copley kept 36 shots from finding the back of the net in just his fourth professional appearance, after he went 2-1-0 in three regular season games for South Carolina. On the other end of the ice, Mike Condon has made 59 saves on 61 shots in the series for the Nailers, improving his April numbers to a 6-0 record, a 0.49 goals against average, and a .985 save percentage.
The Series Wheels Its Way to West Virginia
After a pair of games in South Carolina last weekend, the Nailers and Stingrays have made their way to Wheeling, where the home team was victorious 21 times during the regular season. In the 2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs, Wheeling also won the opening two games at North Charleston Coliseum, before the two sides split a pair of games at WesBanco Arena, as the Nailers clinched the series, 3-1. Now, the two teams collide in a race to four victories, as South Carolina plays its 11th game in the Ohio Valley in the 21-year history of the team. Wheeling has had the upper hand at home against the Stingrays, winning six of ten meetings.
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