ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Caputi Makes Home Debut Tonight

Published on March 6, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, W.Va. - Top NHL prospect Luca Caputi and the rest of the Wheeling Nailers will try to avenge Wednesday night's loss tonight when they get a rematch against the Johnstown Chiefs. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. tonight at WesBanco Arena, and the two teams will meet again at 8:05 p.m. tomorrow.

Caputi, reassigned to the Nailers on Wednesday, scored his first career ECHL goal on a wrap around shot during the first period against Chief goaltender Kris Mayotte. His goal was at the 9:52 mark of the first period and, at the time, gave the Nailers a 2-0 lead. Caputi was a fourth round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007. He played in five games this season with the Penguins and scored his first NHL goal.

In addition to Caputi's scoring ability, the Nailers will also get a boost tonight from Bryan Ewing and Jordan Morrison, who were reassigned to the Nailers today by the Pittsburgh Penguins from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Ewing is Wheeling's leading scorer with 72 points (36G, 36A) in 53 games. He leads the ECHL in shorthanded goals and is tied for 11th in power play goals (10). The Wheeling native leads all ECHL rookies in points and goals, and is tied for second in assists. Morrison is Wheeling's second leading scorer with 62 points (19G, 43A) in 49 games. He ranks sixth in the ECHL in points and is third in assists.

Tickets are still available for tonight and tomorrow night's games. Tonight's game is a Friday Family Four Pack night, where families can purchase four tickets, four hotdogs and four Cokes for just $44.

The first 1,000 kids age 14 and under at tomorrow's game will receive a free youth jersey compliments of United Bank and WTOV. In addition to that offer, the Nailers are also offering a Ticket Extravaganza on Saturday. Upon entering Saturday's game, fans can put a ticket into various different baskets for the chance to win free tickets to local events and games. Tickets in the extravaganza include the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pirates, Kennywood Park, WWE, Toughman, Columbus Crew, Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Washington Wildthings, Oglebay golf, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, State College Spikes, WV Power and your very own Wheeling Nailers.

There are only six more opportunities after this weekend to see your 2008-09 Wheeling Nailers at WesBanco Arena. Don't miss your opportunity to see one of the hardest working and highest-scoring teams around. To order tickets call 877-NAIL-TIX or visit wheelingnailers.com.

For complete game notes, click here.

2008-09 Records

Wheeling: 29-22-2-5, 65 points (4th place, North Division)

Johnstown: 32-22-3-0, 67 points (2nd place, North Division)

Last Time Out

Bo Cheesman and Luca Caputi gave the Nailers a 2-0 first period lead Wednesday against the Chiefs, but the lead did not hold and Johnstown escaped with a 5-3 win. Mike Knight led the Chiefs with a goal and two assists in the win while Kris Mayotte, making his first start with the Chiefs since being returned from the AHL's Hershey Bears, stopped 27 shots. The win gave the Chiefs sole possession of second place in the North Division.

Nailers v. Chiefs, Head-to-Head in 2008-09

Wheeling is 3-4-0-1 against Johnstown this season. The Chiefs have won the last two games of the season series, including wins on Feb. 15 (5-2) and March 4 (5-3). The Nailers are 11-18-3-1 against Johnstown in the past five seasons.

Head Coaches

Wheeling: Greg Puhalski (2nd season)

Johnstown: Ian Herbers (2nd season)

NHL Affiliate

Wheeling: Pittsburgh Penguins

Johnstown: Colorado Avalanche/Columbus Blue Jackets

AHL Affiliate

Wheeling: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Johnstown: Lake Erie Monsters/Syracuse Crunch

Game of Firsts

Winger Luca Caputi scored his first career ECHL goal on a wrap around shot Wednesday night during the Nailers' game against the Johnstown Chiefs. His goal came at the 9:52 mark of the first period and, at the time, gave the Nailers a 2-0 lead. Caputi, a Fourth Round 2007 NHL Entry Draft selection of the Pittsburgh Penguins, has scored 15 goals with 25 assists in 54 games at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season. He has also played in five games for the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he scored his first NHL goal. ... Caputi wasn't the only player to record his first goal with the Nailers Wednesday night. Forward John Mazzei also accomplished the feat when he found the back of the net at the 12:32 mark of the third period against Johnstown. Mazzei, who was playing in his seventh game with the Nailers Wednesday night, cut the Johnstown lead to 4-3 on his goal. The Nailers couldn't get the game-tying goal down the stretch, however.

Brown Called Up

Goaltender David Brown was reassigned by Pittsburgh to Wilkes-Barre-Scranton on Friday. Billy Higgins was added to the Nailers' roster as the emergency backup goaltender.

Top Scorers

Wheeling: Bryan Ewing leads the Nailers with 72 points (36G, 36A) while Jordan Morrison is the team's second leading scorer with 62 points (19G, 43A).

Johnstown: Winger Petr Pohl leads the Chiefs with 58 points (26G, 32A) while Ryan Del Monte is the team's second leading scorer with 41 points (13G, 28A).

Nailers Currently With AHL Teams

David Brown (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton); Aaron Clarke (Albany); Tommy Goebel (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton); Nick Johnson (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton); Cliff Loya (Portland); Rob Sirianni (Philadelphia).

Notes

Returned to the Nailers this morning, rookie Bryan Ewing, the team's leading scorer, has a 6-game scoring streak ... Andrew Lord, another Nailers rookie, has four assists and six points in his last six games. ... Wheeling's Mitch Ganzak is sixth in the ECHL among defensemen with 35 points (6G, 29A). ... Johnstown goaltender Kris Mayotte is 4-2-0 with a goals-against average of 2.80 against Wheeling this season. ... Johnstown rookie Ryan Del Monte has five assists and six points in his last five games. ... The Nailers are fourth in the league on the power play at 21 percent while Johnstown's power play ranks 10th at 17.1 percent. ... The Chiefs are seventh in the ECHL on the penalty kill at 84.7 percent while Wheeling is 14th at 81.5 percent.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from March 6, 2009


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