Nailers Weekend Preview
March 19, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
The Wheeling Nailers conclude their two game road trip and continue their series of games against the Wings with a Friday night encounter at Kalamazoo. Wheeling is in a stretch of 4 games in 5 days and also beginning a weekend of 3 games in 3 days. The Nailers have just 7 games remaining in the regular season.
The Nailers dropped the opening game of the series last Sunday in Wheeling by a 4-1 score but bounced back with a vengeance for a 7-3 victory at Kalamazoo Wednesday night led by Aaron Clarke and Blair Yaworski with two goals apiece. The Nailers had three power play goals on the game and also received tallies from newcomer Kale Kerbashian, T.J. Fox and Jordan Fox. Wheeling overcame an early 2-0 deficit and scored five unanswered goals through the 2nd and 3rd periods to win the game running away.
Wheeling is 3-2-1 against Kalamazoo this season and 2-1-0 at Wings Stadium.
The Nailers and Wings will return to Wheeling to conclude the four game series Saturday night at WesBanco Arena.
Then on Sunday the Nailers host the Toledo Walleye.
Wheeling is 3-1-0 against Toledo this year and the Sunday afternoon contest represents an important potential four point swing for the Nailers who are chasing the Walleye for playoff positioning in the American Conference Standings.
Wheeling has 7 games remaining this year and they are all vitally important for the team's drive to the playoffs. The Nailers hold down 9th place in the American Conference standings and are just one point back off 8th place Reading for the last playoff spot.
Saturday night's game at 7:35 is the finale of a 4 game series. Wheeling will wear their Baby Blue jerseys for the last time in 2009-2010 and the game-worn jersey auction will begin on eBay after the game. Sunday at 3:05 against the Trenton Devils is Pucks and Pucks Day in which fans can bring their dogs to the game. All Sunday home games feature an open-skate with the Nailers players after the game.
Notes:
The Nailers have added #11 Kale Kerbashian. At only 19 years old, the Thunder Bay, Ontario native made his professional debut in Wednesday night' s game and scored his first ever pro goal midway through the 2nd period. The center spent the past four seasons playing Major Juniors in the Ontario Hockey League. This year with the Sarnia Sting he scored 26 goals and 56 points in 58 games to lead his team in scoring. Last year he split time between London (Ontario) and Mississauga St. Michael's.
The Nailers have added Emergency Backup Goalie Bobby Jarosz who just completed a four year career at Michigan State University. Jarosz played in 12 games this season for the Spartans going 4-3-1 with a saves percentage of.919 and a goals against average of 2.34.
Goalie Michael-Lee Teslak has been recalled to Adirondack of the AHL and his stay there is not expected to be longer than originally anticipated due to the injury of goalie Michael Leighton in Philadelphia.
Dan Henningson has been activated from the injured reserve and played for the first time since February 5th. He also played forward for the first time this season and had an assist.
Jordan Morrison and Billy Ryan were both scratches from the lineup Wednesday night with minor injuries and are expected to not be in action for Friday night's game as well.
Andrew Lord is 4th in the league in major penalties with 20, tied with T.J. Reynolds of Charlotte.
Aaron Clarke along with Scott Burt of Alaska and Brian McGuirk of Kalamazoo lead the ECHL with 4 shorthanded goals this season.
Mitch Ganzak leads the ECHL defensemen with 36 assists. Ganzak is 2nd among defensemen with 19 power play assists and leads active defensemen with 4 shoot out goals and a 0.571 shootout percent.
Ryan Schnell has 147 penalty minutes and 15 major penalties to place him 2nd among ECHL rookies in both categories.
Kyle Bushee leads ECHL defensemen along with 4 others with 3 short handed points.
Wheeling's power play is 8th in the league at 19.4% (66 for 341) and penalty killing is 5th in the league at 82.9% (60 for 350).
Friday-Wheeling Nailers (30-29-6) 66
Kalamazoo Wings (36-19-8) 80
Saturday - Kalamazoo Wings
Wheeling Nailers
Sunday - Trenton Devils
Wheeling Nailers
Head Coach:
Wheeling-Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey)
Kalamazoo-Nick Bootland
Toledo - Nick Vitucci
Affiliation:
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
Kalamazoo- Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), San Jose Sharks (NHL), Adirondack Phantoms (AHL), Worcester Sharks (AHL)
Toledo - Detroit Red Wings (NHL), Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL), Rockford IceHogs (AHL)
Top Nailers
Wheeling-T.J. Fox (23-30-53), Aaron Clarke (22-28-50), Mitch Ganzak (7-37-44)
Jordan Fox (17-29-46), Andrew Lord (14-17-31)
Top Wings
Kalamazoo-Rick Cleaver (29-33-62), Andrew Foumier (21-36-57), Sam Ftorek (17-28-45), Mathieu Curadeau (17-22-39)
Top Walleye
Toledo-Maxime Tanguay (22-40-62), J.C. Sawyer (21-33-54), Evan Rankin (27-21-48), Chris Robertson (18-26-44)
Top Goalies
Wheeling-Adam Berkhoel (10-8-2, 3.00,.894)
Kalamazoo-Ryan Nie (23-11-3, 3.04,.904)
Toledo-Alec Richards (16-11-4, 3.43, 0.8945), Jordan Pearce (12-13-4, 3.69, 0.888%)
Upcoming Games:
Friday March 19th @ Kalamazoo 7:30pm
Saturday March 20th Vs Kalamazoo 7:35pm
Sunday March 21st Vs Toledo 3:05pm
Friday March 26th Vs Kalamazoo 7:35pm
Saturday March 27th @ Toledo 7:00pm
Friday April 2nd Vs Reading 7:35pm
Saturday April 3rd Vs Cincinnati 7:35pm
Upcoming Promotions!
Saturday, March 20th -Wheeling to wear the Baby Blue Penguins replica jerseys for the last time to be auctioned on eBay.
Sunday, March 21st - Pups and Pucks. Bring your dog to the game and cheer on the Nailers with man's best friend! Open-skate after the game with the Nailers players.
Friday, March 26th - Team Poster Giveaway Night for the first 2500 fans and Team Autograph Night after the game with the entire Nailers team appearing.
Friday, April 2nd - Nailers Baby Blue Ball-Cap Giveaway for the first 2500 fans courtesy of Main Street Bank.
Saturday, April 3rd - Fan Appreciation Night and Ticket Extravaganza. Lots of gifts and prizes on the last game of the regular season.
Experience Counts:
Greg Puhalski is entering his 16th year at the bench and 3rdfor the Nailers. He is second among all ECHL coaches with 601 coming into this season trailing only Steve Martinson who had 650 wins entering this year. Puhalski has over 200 ECHL wins dating back to the beginning of his coaching career with the Toledo Storm from 1994-98.
Right-Hand Man:
Greg Puhalski has an assistant coach on the staff this year. Doug Doull joins the Nailers and the Penguins organization after doing some coaching in Canadian University hockey for a couple seasons following his 8 year playing career in the AHL and NHL. Doull fought some of the NHL's toughest customers in his time with the Boston Bruins in 2003-04. He played 37 games in the NHL mostly with Boston (and 2 with Washington) and racked up 151 PIM's. His AHL career included stays with Hershey, San Antonio, Utah, Providence, St. John's, Saint John and with other AAA level teams in the old IHL in the late 90's with Michigan (now Kalamazoo), Detroit Vipers and Manitoba.
Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL or toll-free at 1-877-NAIL-TIX. Get your tickets online at the team's website at wheelingnailers.com.
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