ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Home Stand Starts Tonight

Published on February 27, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING, W.Va. - The Wheeling Nailers, on a 2-game winning streak, open up a 3-game weekend home stand tonight when they face the Dayton Bombers at 7:35 p.m. at WesBanco Arena.

Wheeling's other two games this weekend are against Trenton. Tomorrow's game begins at 8:05 p.m. with faceoff set for 4:05 p.m. on Sunday.

The first 2,500 fans in attendance at tonight's game will receive a free collector poster. The first 2,500 fans in attendance tomorrow will receive a Coal Mine Spike bobble head. Sunday's game is a Sunday Family Funday, where fans have the opportunity to skate with the Nailers. Fans must provide their own skates and gloves. To order tickets, call (304) 234-GOAL or log on to wheelingnailers.com.

For complete game notes, click here.

2008-09 Records

Wheeling - 27-20-2-5, 61 points (5th place, North Division)

Dayton - 25-26-2-3, 55 points (6th place, North Division)

Last Time Out

Wheeling - The Nailers earned their second straight win with a 4-3 road victory over Trenton on Tuesday night. The Nailers never trailed in the game thanks to first-period goals by Andrew Lord and Reid Cashman, plus some fantastic goaltending by Curtis Darling. Darling stopped 39 of Trenton's 42 shots, 25 of which came in the third period. Aaron Clarke scored Wheeling third goal of the game on a power play, and Erik Johnson's one-timer later in the second turned out to be the eventual game-winner.

Dayton - The Bombers were defeated 6-5 on Wednesday by the Elmira Jackals. Nino Musitelli paced Dayton with a goal and two assists.

Nailers v. Bombers, Head-to-Head

Wheeling is 5-6 this season against Dayton. The Bombers have won two of the last three games, however, including the last meeting between the two teams, a 4-2 victory on Feb. 14. Wheeling is 15-17-0-1 in the last five years against Dayton.

Head Coaches

Wheeling - Greg Puhalski (2nd season)

Dayton - Bill McDonald (2nd season)

NHL Affiliate

Wheeling - Pittsburgh Penguins

Dayton - Independent

AHL Affiliate

Wheeling - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Dayton - Independent

Top Scorers

Wheeling - Bryan Ewing leads the Nailers with 35 goals and 34 assists (69 points) in 50 games. Erik Johnson is the team's second leading scorer with 15 goals and 22 assists (37 points).

Dayton - Center Jarret Lukin has scored 43 points (20G, 23A) in 55 games to lead the Bombers offensive attack. Nino Musitelli is the team's second leading scorer with 16 goals and 23 assists (39 points) in 46 games.

Newest Nailer

Defenseman Jon Ralph was signed by the Nailers on Thursday. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound right-handed shooter recently concluded his collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He scored two goals with 12 assists in 27 games as a senior. Ralph will wear No. 2.

Maz is Back

Forward John Mazzei, who played four games with the Nailers earlier this month, was re-signed on Thursday. Mazzei played with Nailer teammate Ben Geelan at Bowling Green State University. He played in 38 games with the New Mexico Scorpions of the CHL this season where he scored five goals with six assists. Mazzei wears No. 22.

Nailers Currently With AHL Teams

Aaron Clarke (Albany); Mitch Ganzak (Albany); Tommy Goebel (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton); Nick Johnson (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton); Cliff Loya (Portland); Jordan Morrison (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton); Rob Sirianni (Philadelphia); Shane Willis (Springfield).

Notes

The Nailers are currently riding a 2-game winning streak with back-to-back wins over Trenton on Sunday (5-4) and Tuesday (4-3). ... Bryan Ewing scored two goals and set up another goal in the Sunday victory while veteran Kelly Miller scored the game-winner in the sixth round of a shootout. ... Curtis Darling stopped 39 of Trenton's 42 shots on Tuesday, and Erik Johnson and Andrew Lord each had one goal and one assist apiece. ... The Nailers are 22-7-5 when scoring first; they are 21-2-0 when taking a lead into the third period. ... Nailer top scorer Bryan Ewing has a 3-game points streak (2G, 3A) and 14 points (7G, 7A) in his last 10 games. ... Ewing is second in the ECHL in points (69) behind only Florida's Kevin Baker (80). ... Ewing has also led the Nailers against Dayton this season with 13 points (9G, 4A).

... Nino Musitelli and Christian Gaudet have been the Bombers' top performers against Wheeling with 13 points apiece. ... Musitelli has a 3-game points streak (2G, 3A) and 11 points (5G, 6A) in his last eight games. ... Wheeling goaltender Curtis Darling is third in the ECHL in saves (1,115) and minutes played (2,250). ... Wheeling's power play is the fourth best in the league (21.1 percent) while Dayton is 18th on the penalty kill (79.8 percent).

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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