Nailers Advance to Kelly Cup Playoffs
April 4, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Wheeling, WV - The Wheeling Nailers finished a wonderful 2008-09 regular season on a losing note at the Trenton Devils with a 6-0 defeat but won the last playoff spot in the North Division as the Cincinnati Cyclones knocked off the Johnstown Chiefs. The Nailers 80 points on the season placed them one HUGE point ahead of Johnstown's total of 79 and advances the Nailers to the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the first time in 3 years. Cincinnati convincingly slammed the Johnstown Chiefs by a 6-0 final. The Nailers finished with a record of 36-28-8
Wheeling will play the Cyclones in a best of 7 series in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs beginning Thursday, April 9 in Cincinnati. The Nailers will host games 3, 4 and 5 of the first round at WesBanco Arena. Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday, April 11 at 7:35. Kelly Cup Playoff Tickets will be on sale this week at the Wheeling Nailers office on Main Street in downtown Wheeling and also online at wheelingnailers.com or by calling the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL (that's 234-4625).
The other North Division playoff series will feature the 2 seed Trenton Devils with home-ice advantage against the 3 seed Elmira Jackals.
The Wheeling Nailers finished the season with a winning record against 2 of the other 3 North Division teams in the playoffs. Wheeling was 6-3-2 against Cincinnati this year. The Cyclones are the defending Kelly Cup Champions and won their second straight North Division title.
Kelly Cup Playoffs First Round Schedule:
Game 1 - Thursday, April 9, 7:30 - Wheeling at Cincinnati
Game 2 - Friday, April 10, 7:30 - Wheeling at Cincinnati
Game 3 - Saturday, April 11, 7:35 - Cincinnati at Wheeling
Game 4 - Wednesday, April 15, 7:05 - Cincinnati at Wheeling
Game 5 (if necessary) - Friday, April 17, 7:35 - Cincinnati at Wheeling
Game 6 (if necessary) - Saturday, April 18, 7:30 - Wheeling at Cincinnati
Game 7 (if necessary) - Monday, April 20, 7:30 - Wheeling at Cincinnati
In the season finale the Trenton Devils tried to make up for the five consecutive time the Nailers had defeated them and delivered the first shutout of the season against the Wheeling Nailers in the very last game. Trenton scored a pair of goals in the 1st period and 3 more in the 2nd period before tacking another in the 3rd. David Brown gave up 4 of the goals and then was replaced by Curtis Darling who surrendered the last two. Gerald Coleman had his 4th shutout of the year as partial redemption for all the previous times the Nailers had defeated the Devils. Wheeling won the season series over the 2nd place Devils convincingly with a record of 8-3-2 against their potential 2nd round.
Post-season playoff packages are available now and we want you there at WesBanco Arena to cheer on the Nailers through their Kelly Cup playoff run! Purchase your 6-game playoff package that is good for the entire post-season. You get a discount vs. the gate price and any unused playoff credits are forwarded to the following season.
Season tickets are on sale now for the 2009-10 campaign. Reserve your season ticket with a down payment of $50. Season tickets start as low as $200 for all 36 exciting home games of Wheeling Nailers action! There are some great incentives to reserve your season ticket ahead of time. If you pay for your season ticket in full by May 1 the Nailers will give you free parking in the back lot for the season. Those who deposit $100 by May 1 will have the $18 arena fee waived.
For more information contact the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL (that's 234-4625) or log on at wheelingnailers.com.
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ECHL Stories from April 4, 2009
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