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Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Jackals Game Day Snap Shot

March 21, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (30-28-1-1, 62 PTS) at Elmira Jackals (30-25-0-7, 67 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(30-28-1-1, 62 PTS, 4th North, 10th East)

178 GF, 180 GA

PP: 16.6% (39-for-235), 16th

PK: 83.1% (211-for-254), 14th

23-F-Riley Brace (18 goals, 40 assists, 58 points in 49 games)

16-F-Derek Army (25 goals, 29 assists, 54 points in 60 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (15 goals, 38 assists, 53 points in 47 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (15 goals, 19 assists, 34 points in 55 games)

20-F-Jarrett Burton (10 goals, 16 assists, 26 points in 44 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (13 goals, 9 assists, 22 points in 54 games)

22-D-Clark Seymour (1 goal, 11 assists, 12 points in 48 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (17-17-1 record, 2.98 GAA, .908 Sv% in 36 games)

ELMIRA JACKALS

(30-25-0-7, 67 PTS, 6th East, 9th East)

164 GF, 180 GA

PP: 18.5% (40-for-216), 9th

PK: 79.9% (203-for-254), 25th

10-F-Mike Seidel (20 goals, 17 assists, 37 points in 48 games)

40-F-Taylor Stefishen (13 goals, 23 assists, 36 points in 50 games)

18-F-Ryan Rashid (14 goals, 21 assists, 35 points in 57 games)

21-D-Steven Shamanski (12 goals, 21 assists, 33 points in 60 games)

9-F-Thomas Nesbitt (11 goals, 16 assists, 27 points in 60 games)

20-F-Riley Wetmore (6 goals, 19 assists, 25 points in 50 games)

14-F-Lucas Bloodoff (9 goals, 10 assists, 19 points in 36 games)

32-G-Travis Fullerton (18-8-6 record, 2.67 GAA, .910 Sv% in 35 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Nailers 7, Jackals 2

Season Series at First Arena: Nailers 2, Jackals 1

All-Time Series: Nailers 41, Jackals 40

All-Time Series at First Arena: Jackals 25, Nailers 16

Back on Track in the Shootout

The Wheeling Nailers experienced a minor blip on the radar screen on Tuesday night, when they suffered their first shootout loss of the season in a 5-4 setback to the Toledo Walleye. However, those struggles were short-lived, as the Nailers bounced back on Friday night, when they defeated the Elmira Jackals, 2-1 at First Arena. After a scoreless opening forty minutes, Chaz Johnson finally broke the deadlock at the 9:34 mark of the third period, putting Wheeling ahead. Elmira fought back to tie the contest with a power play goal, forcing overtime, and eventually a shootout. David Gilbert and Mike Ratchuk scored in the second and third rounds for the Nailers, while Franky Palazzese followed up a 36-save game with a perfect 4-for-4 effort in the shootout.

Tough Sledding to Start the Homestand

The Elmira Jackals are trying to battle their way back toward a playoff spot, but through the first two games of their seven-game homestand, the points haven't come easily. Elmira was shutout by the Toledo Walleye 3-0 on Monday, before Friday night's 2-1 shootout loss to the Nailers. The Jackals had gone 117:15 without scoring a goal, before Zach Tolkinen netted a power play marker at the 16:31 mark of the third period on Friday, evening the game 1-1. Despite getting saddled with the shootout loss, Travis Fullerton turned in a strong goaltending performance for Elmira, as he stopped 33 of the 34 shots he faced. The Jackals are now 2-7 in games decided by shootouts.

Battling Back to Even

At times during the 2014-15 season, Franky Palazzese has had troubling numbers, as he experienced the growing pains of developing his game in professional hockey. At the end of December, Palazzese had a 3.59 goals against average and .881 save percentage, to go with a record that was three games under .500. However, Franky's game has taken a drastic turn into the positive direction during February and March, as Friday night's triumph lifted his record to 17-17-1, marking the first time since the start of play on December 20th that his win and loss totals were identical. A 7-3-1 record in his last eleven starts has also helped Palazzese drop his goals against average under 3.00 at 2.98 (0.61 drop), while his save percentage has risen all the way to .908 (.027 improvement).

Driving Ahead With a Dozen to Play

Thanks to their win on Friday, as well as some help out of town, the Nailers have leaped into sole possession of fourth place in the North Division, having accumulated 62 points in 60 games. Wheeling has a two-point lead over the Cincinnati Cyclones, while holding one game in hand, as Cincinnati was recently swept in two games by Greenville, prior to beginning a home-and-home set with South Carolina. The Indy Fuel were also on the losing side of the equation on Friday, as they dropped three points back of the Nailers. The Kalamazoo Wings were victorious over Fort Wayne, keeping their lead at five points, although Wheeling owns two games in hand.

That Clinched the Series

Saturday night marks the tenth of 13 head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Jackals this season, as well as the fourth of six battles between the two clubs at First Arena. Friday night's shootout victory clinched the second straight season series win for Wheeling, who has won seven of the nine tilts thus far in 2014-15, after picking up 12 triumphs in the 15 contests played between the two sides a year ago. The Nailers are 2-1-0 in games played at Elmira this season, and 8-2-1, dating back to the start of 2013-14. A good portion of Wheeling's success against the Jackals this season has come in shootouts, as the Nailers are 3-0, while scoring goals on nine of 18 shootout attempts. Friday night was the Nailers' first ever shootout win in New York.

The next homestand will take place with four games in five days from March 25th-29th . NASCAR Night on March 28th will be the highlight game of the week, as the Nailers will wear special jerseys as part of CORE Weekend, while a NASCAR race car will be at the game. March 29th will be the final Family Funday and Post Game Skate, while March 27th is a Flat Screen Friday, Frosty Friday, and Player Poster Giveaway.

Wheeling Nailers 2015-16 season tickets, as well as flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets for 2014-15 are on sale now. For more information, call 304-234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com.

Listen to all Nailers regular season and post-season games live on the Valley's rock station EAGLE 107.5 FM, on www.iheartradio.com or watch live on www.echl.tv. Catch every road game live on WLUTV on Comcast Cable 14.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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