Nailers at Americans Game Day Snap Shot
June 9, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
A Rare One-Goal Defeat
The Wheeling Nailers had been completely dominant in one-goal games during the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs, as they entered Saturday night with a perfect 10-0 record in that situation. Unfortunately, the first blemish to that mark came in game five. The opening goal was scored by Wheeling all the way at the 12:16 mark of the second period, when Jarrett Burton took a drop pass from Ty Loney, and roofed it into the top-right corner of the net. That was the only tally in the first two stanzas, but early in the third, the Americans went ahead with two straight goals of their own. With 3:57 left in regulation, the Nailers utilized a power play to tie the game, forcing extra hockey. Cody Wydo knocked down Mathew Maione's point shot, and turned it into the left side of the cage. Despite the excitement from that goal, the night didn't have a happy ending, as Wheeling suffered its first overtime loss of the playoffs. Franky Palazzese made 13 saves between the pipes.
They Stole Two at Our Place
The Allen Americans have had a better record on home ice during their second straight run to the Kelly Cup Final, but in this particular series, it was their success on the road that gave them a 3-2 series lead, as the games shift back to Texas. After coming back to win game four to tie the series, the Americans needed to score a second straight comeback win in game five. Trailing by one at the start of the third period, Allen turned to leading scorer Chad Costello, who tapped in the rebound of Rick Pinkston's shot, which was drilled off of the end boards. 4:02 later, the visitors went ahead, when Vincent Arseneau skidded in a shot from the left circle. The Nailers forced overtime with a late tying goal, but the Americans remained perfect after the 60-minute mark, as Greger Hanson needed just 17 additional seconds to pot the rebound of Nikita Jevpalovs' initial shot. Riley Gill backstopped his second consecutive victory in net, turning away 24 attempts.
We've Been Here a Lot Lately
Game six is a very familiar location for the Nailers, as Thursday night will be the sixth straight series for the team that goes at least six games. Each of the previous four have gone Wheeling's way, including all three during the current postseason. In rounds two and three, the Nailers entered game six with a 3-2 series deficit, but rallied back to send the Reading Royals and South Carolina Stingrays packing. Before that, game six was a series finisher, when Wheeling traveled to Florida, disposing of the Everblades without a decisive match being necessary. Last spring, the Nailers played game six against the Toledo Walleye, and won that game, 5-2, forcing one more contest. Allen has also yet to lose a sixth game in this year's playoffs, entering Thursday with a 2-0 record. The Americans battled back from being down 3-2 to knock off the Idaho Steelheads in round one, then eliminated the Missouri Mavericks with a win in game six of the second round.
That Was Some First Place Killing
Special teams have played a significant role in the Kelly Cup Final, especially in the first three games, when the Nailers combined to go 6-for-12, while the Americans turned in a 4-for-11 success rate. Both teams have been extremely good on the man advantage in the playoffs, as they rank first and second respectively, converting a combined total of 48 times on 204 chances. However, in the last two tilts played at WesBanco Arena, the penalty killing was the story. Neither team lit the lamp on six opportunities in game four. Then, in game five, Wheeling netted the tying marker on one of four power plays, while keeping Allen off of the scoreboard during seven different trips to the sin bin. The Nailers possess the best road power play in the league during the postseason, as well as the third best road penalty kill. The Americans rank second on the man advantage at home and 11th when shorthanded at home.
We Plan on Sticking Around
Thursday night is game six of the Kelly Cup Final Series between the Nailers and Americans, as well as the third of four possible battles at Allen Event Center. Wheeling will look to force a seventh and deciding contest on the road for the second consecutive round, after winning game six in overtime against the South Carolina Stingrays in the Eastern Conference Final. The Nailers and Americans split the two games played in Texas earlier in the series with significantly more offense than what was seen at WesBanco Arena. The two sides combined to light the lamp 21 times in the Lone Star State, including a 13-goal outburst in game two - a 7-6 triumph for Wheeling. West Virginia saw just 16 goals scored in three games, with the highest total being six during game four. The Nailers will look to play their first game seven in a championship series, while forcing Allen to its second straight game seven in the final.
Wheeling Nailers (14-11) at Allen Americans (15-8)
WHEELING NAILERS
(14-11)
78 GF, 79 GA
PP: 21.9% (23-for-105), 2nd
PK: 86.3% (101-for-117), 2nd
23-F-Riley Brace (5 goals, 21 assists, 26 points in 25 games)
25-F-John McCarron (10 goals, 12 assists, 22 points in 24 games)
18-D-Mathew Maione (6 goals, 16 assists, 22 points in 25 games)
11-F-Cody Wydo (11 goals, 9 assists, 20 points in 25 games)
24-F-Ty Loney (7 goals, 10 assists, 17 points in 25 games)
20-F-Jarrett Burton (7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points in 20 games)
31-G-Brian Foster (9-6 record, 3.02 GAA, .903 Sv% in 15 games)
(37-26-5-4, 83 PTS, 2nd North, 5th East)
214 GF, 211 GA
PP: 17.8% (48-for-269), 9th
PK: 83.6% (225-for-269), 15th
23-F-Riley Brace (26 goals, 41 assists, 67 points in 56 games)
18-D-Mathew Maione (11 goals, 43 assists, 54 points in 70 games)
11-F-Cody Wydo (23 goals, 27 assists, 50 points in 59 games)
25-F-John McCarron (14 goals, 17 assists, 31 points in 51 games)
17-F-Jordan Kwas (9 goals, 20 assists, 29 points in 60 games)
27-D-Brett Stern (7 goals, 17 assists, 24 points in 72 games)
29-G-Franky Palazzese (20-15-3 record, 2.86 GAA, .906 Sv% in 39 games)
ALLEN AMERICANS
(15-8)
76 GF, 65 GA
PP: 25.3% (25-for-99), 1st
PK: 80.0% (76-for-95), 11th
13-F-Chad Costello (7 goals, 26 assists, 33 points in 23 games)
15-F-Greger Hanson (14 goals, 8 assists, 22 points in 22 games)
10-D-David Makowski (5 goals, 15 assists, 20 points in 18 games)
7-D-Eric Roy (4 goals, 14 assists, 18 points in 22 games)
12-F-Gary Steffes (12 goals, 5 assists, 17 points in 23 games)
16-F-Vincent Arseneau (8 goals, 7 assists, 15 points in 21 games)
30-G-Riley Gill (11-5 record, 2.37 GAA, .920 Sv% in 18 games)
(41-24-3-4, 89 PTS, 2nd Central, 4th West)
222 GF, 204 GA
PP: 21.1% (58-for-275), 1st
PK: 86.4% (247-for-286), 3rd
13-F-Chad Costello (24 goals, 79 assists, 103 points in 72 games)
18-F-Casey Pierro-Zabotel (15 goals, 32 assists, 47 points in 58 games)
12-F-Gary Steffes (22 goals, 23 assists, 45 points in 69 games)
10-D-David Makowski (17 goals, 21 assists, 38 points in 54 games)
43-D-Matt Register (7 goals, 30 assists, 37 points in 53 games)
15-F-Greger Hanson (14 goals, 22 assists, 36 points in 33 games)
30-G-Riley Gill (13-12-1 record, 2.74 GAA, .907 Sv% in 29 games)
Head to Head
Playoff Series: Americans 3, Nailers 2
Playoff Series at Allen Event Center: Nailers 1, Americans 1
No Previous Games Between the Teams
ECHL Stories from June 9, 2016
- Americans Win Second Straight Kelly Cup Title - Allen Americans
- Americans Win Kelly Cup with 4-2 Decision in Game Six - Wheeling Nailers
- Allen Claims Second Consecutive Kelly Cup Title - ECHL
- Swamp Rabbits Announce Promotions, Expand Front Office - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Nailers at Americans Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- ECHL Today - June 9 - ECHL
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.
