ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Cyclones Game Day Snap Shot

Published on April 12, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING NAILERS

(38-27-1-5, 82 PTS, 2nd Atlantic, T-7th East)

211 GF, 196 GA

PP: 15.4% (37-for-241), 14th

PK: 84.3% (241-for-286), 14th

15-F-Zack Torquato (14 goals, 38 assists, 52 points in 44 games)

21-F-Sahir Gill (12 goals, 40 assists, 52 points in 66 games)

2-D-Mike Ratchuk (15 goals, 27 assists, 42 points in 68 games)

7-F-Max MacKay (17 goals, 23 assists, 40 points in 59 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (13 goals, 21 assists, 34 points in 63 games)

27-F-Denver Manderson (11 goals, 16 assists, 27 points in 26 games)

1-G-Mike Condon (22-12-4 record, 2.24 GAA, .928 Sv% in 38 games)

CINCINNATI CYCLONES

(40-22-4-4, 88 PTS, 2nd North, T-4th East)

243 GF, 198 GA

PP: 14.8% (38-for-257), 17th

PK: 82.6% (181-for-219), 17th

44-F-Jonathan Hazen (21 goals, 28 assists, 49 points in 56 games)

25-F-Paul Crowder (16 goals, 32 assists, 48 points in 64 games)

16-F-Dan Eves (9 goals, 27 assists, 36 points in 61 games)

4-D-Taylor Aronson (5 goals, 30 assists, 35 points in 63 games)

3-D-Mike Dalhuisen (9 goals, 21 assists, 30 points in 54 games)

20-F-Josh Shalla (14 goals, 15 assists, 29 points in 27 games)

30-G-Magnus Hellberg (4-0-1 record, 2.85 GAA, .908 Sv% in 5 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Cyclones 6, Nailers 5

Season Series at US Bank Arena: Cyclones 3, Nailers 2

All-Time Series: Nailers 53, Cyclones 53

All-Time Series at US Bank Arena: Cyclones 29, Nailers 24

Last Game Before the Big Dance

The Wheeling Nailers will conclude their 22nd regular season in team history on Saturday night, when they play the second of back-to-back games against the Cincinnati Cyclones at US Bank Arena. On Friday night, the Cyclones got the upper hand with a 6-3 victory, as they outscored Wheeling 2-1 in each of the three periods. Tom Kuhnhackl, Denver Manderson, and Derek Army were the goal scorers for the Nailers, as Army recorded the first two points of his professional career. Sahir Gill picked up an assist on Manderson's goal, as he extended his point streak to nine games, while tying Zack Torquato for the team lead with 52 points.

Lots of Red Lights in the Queen City

The Cincinnati Cyclones enter their final two games of the regular season with 243 goals, which is two better than Alaska for the top spot in the ECHL. On Friday night, the Nailers received a first-hand view of Cincinnati's offensive prowess, as the Cyclones received goals from five different players in their 6-3 win. While Anthony Luciani (25) and Jonathan Hazen (21) are the only two players with at least 20 goals, a total of ten players have reached double digits in the goal column, with seven of those players on the active roster.

Looking to Nail Down a Defensive Number

Despite the fact that nine goals were scored between the two teams on Friday, the Nailers will be searching for a lower goal total in Saturday night's rematch. If Wheeling can hold Cincinnati to three goals or fewer, it will mark just the fourth time in the team's 22-year history that it has allowed less than 200 goals in a single season. The three previous years with under 200 came in consecutive seasons from 2003-06, with the team record standing at 156 during the 2005-06 campaign. Offensively, the Nailers have already eclipsed the 200-goal plateau, as they enter with 211 tallies, leading last season's total by 18.

The Final Four Possibilities

While Saturday night is Wheeling's final game of the 2013-14 regular season, the playoff scenario is still well up in the air for the Nailers, who will finish in one of three positions (6th, 7th, 8th) in the Eastern Conference Standings, while facing one of four different opponents (Kalamazoo, Reading, Orlando, South Carolina) in the opening round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. If Wheeling wins or Fort Wayne loses in regulation, the Nailers are guaranteed a finish no lower than seventh, which would also solidify a series against a team other than Reading. Although all 16 teams that will participate in the playoffs have qualified, the Royals remain the only team in the Eastern Conference that has locked up their seed for the postseason.

A Chance to Split the Dozen in Half

Saturday night marks the 12th and final head-to-head meeting between the Nailers and Cyclones this season, as well as the sixth battle between the two clubs at US Bank Arena. On Friday night, Cincinnati took a 6-5 lead in the season series, thanks to a 6-3 triumph in the first of two tilts this weekend. Prior to Friday, the two sides played to an even draw in ten games, with both accumulating five wins, 11 points, and 26 goals. In case those numbers weren't tight enough, Saturday will also be the 107th all-time meeting, which has seen 53 wins go each way. The Cyclones have had the upper hand at home, taking three of five contests this season, and 29 of 53 all-time.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from April 12, 2014


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.

OurSports Central