ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Everblades Game Day Snap Shot

Published on April 25, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


We Protected Our House

The Wheeling Nailers faced a 2-1 series deficit heading into the two games over the weekend, and when all was said and done, they made sure to leave WesBanco Arena with a winning playoff record at home, in addition to a lead in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. On Friday night, the Nailers rallied back from a 3-0 deficit, scoring five of the last six goals in a 5-4 triumph in front of the largest home crowd of the series. That momentum carried into game five on Saturday, as Wheeling stormed out to a 3-0 lead, while outshooting Florida, 13-7 during the opening 20 minutes of play. Ty Loney started the scoring at 4:47, slipping a backhand around Anthony Peters' right pad. 3:09 later, Mathew Maione fired in his third goal of the series from the top of the left circle. Riley Brace got the third marker, drilling in a power play slapper from the top of the right circle. Maione's second of the night came at the 2:01 mark of the second period, and chased Peters from the game. Although the Everblades pushed hard at a comeback, the strong start helped the Nailers hang on for the 4-3 triumph.

They Made it a Nailbiter

The Florida Everblades thought they were getting close to a stranglehold of the series on Friday night, but then watched as eight of nine goals went into the back of their net during a 50-minute span in games four and five. A powerful first 22 minutes on Saturday put the Everblades behind by four goals, creating a large mountain for the ECHL's fourth seed to have to climb. Florida's comeback attempt began with eight minutes left in the second period, when Matt Marquardt fired in a one-timer on one of seven power plays for the visiting team. At the 6:53 mark of the final stanza, the Everblades dented the twine with a shorthanded goal, as Jon DiSalvatore completed a 2-on-1 break with Kevin Lynch. Ethan Werek potted the rebound of Brendan O'Donnell's shot with 6:57 left in regulation to make the deficit one, but that's where it stayed when the final buzzer sounded at WesBanco Arena. Anthony Peters was chased for the second time in the series, giving up four goals on 15 shots. Rasmus Tirronen was perfect on 14 attempts in relief, and will likely get Monday's starting nod.

Not Quite a Record Setting Pace

Goals came at a fast and furious rate during the three tilts at WesBanco Arena, as nine shots turned on the red light in game three, nine more whizzed past netminders in game four, and seven pucks led to celebrations in game five. That made for a total of 25 goals in three games in front of the Wheeling fanbase, raising the overall total in the series to 39. The 39 combined goals already ranks as the fourth highest total in a single playoff series in team history, trailing the 2011 series against Greenville by one, the 1993 series against Raleigh by four, and the 1993 series against Toledo by 17. The Nailers 19 goals also ranks fourth historically, trailing the Toledo (28) and Raleigh (24) series, as well as 2009 against Cincinnati (21). Despite all of the total goals scored, none of the games have reached high marks on their own, as 13 combined goals remains the all-time high, with 11 goals still being required to crack the top-five.

Bad Boys for Life

One of the well-documented statistics in the opening round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs has been the increase in power plays, and the series in which that has been most evident is the one between the Nailers and Everblades. Florida went on the man advantage seven times on Saturday and Wheeling six, for a combined total of 13 opportunities. Each club lit the lamp once, with Mathew Maione drilling in his second power play goal of the series for the Nailers, and Matt Marquardt connecting for his second of the set for the Everblades. The two sides have combined for 59 power plays in the first five games, which leads the ECHL, and the 11.8 power plays per game also ranks at the top of the list. Wheeling has gone to the penalty kill on 32 occasions, tying Colorado for the league lead, followed by Cincinnati's 28, and then Florida at 27. The teams will get their second look of the series at Tyler Puddifant and first at Pierre Lambert, who will police game six together on Monday.

Three Trips in One Year

Monday night is game six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Series between the Nailers and Everblades, as well as the third battle at Germain Arena. After playing a three-game set in Estero during the 2011-12 campaign, Wheeling went three full seasons without visiting Southwest Florida, until returning in November of 2015 for three more contests. The Nailers made their second trip of the campaign to the Sunshine State for the first two games of the current playoff series, and are back once again, as one team will advance to round two this week. Wheeling posted a winning record at home against the Everblades for the first time ever last week, coming out on top in two of three contests at WesBanco Arena. They are now in search of their eighth road victory against Florida, with Monday serving as the 15th match-up in that building.

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Notifications and AlertsNews Feed containing team news, photos & videosInteract Feed containing Nailers posts on Facebook, Twitter & InstagramTeam SummaryRosterTeam Stats and League StandingsView Schedule & Buy TicketsVenue Information (Map, Directions, Parking, and Seating Chart) Individual tickets, mini plans, and group tickets are on sale now, with prices starting as low as $10 per seat. For tickets and more information, call the Nailers at (304) 234-GOAL or online at wheelingnailers.com.

Wheeling Nailers (3-2) at Florida Everblades (2-3)

WHEELING NAILERS

(3-2)

19 GF, 20 GA

PP: 14.8% (4-for-27), 13th

PK: 81.3% (26-for-32), 8th

23-F-Riley Brace (4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points in 5 games)

18-D-Mathew Maione (3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points in 5 games)

25-F-John McCarron (4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points in 5 games)

11-F-Cody Wydo (3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points in 5 games)

24-F-Ty Loney (2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points in 5 games)

21-F-Andrew Ammon (1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points in 5 games)

31-G-Brian Foster (2-1 record, 3.55 GAA, .875 Sv% in 3 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)

FLORIDA EVERBLADES

(2-3)

20 GF, 19 GA

PP: 18.8% (6-for-32), 9th

PK: 85.2% (23-for-27), 4th

7-F-Ryan Martindale (3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points in 5 games)

29-F-Matt Willows (2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points in 5 games)

21-F-Brendan O'Donnell (3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points in 5 games)

41-F-Jon DiSalvatore (2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points in 5 games)

5-D-Danny New (2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points in 5 games)

11-F-Kevin Lynch (2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points in 5 games)

35-G-Rasmus Tirronen (0-0 record, 1.63 GAA, .946 Sv% in 2 games)

(46-23-1-2, 95 PTS, 2nd South, 4th East)

226 GF, 175 GA

PP: 17.1% (45-for-263), 13th

PK: 86.0% (203-for-236), 4th

29-F-Matt Willows (23 goals, 43 assists, 66 points in 71 games)

11-F-Kevin Lynch (22 goals, 36 assists, 58 points in 62 games)

28-F-Matt Marquardt (15 goals, 30 assists, 45 points in 72 games)

21-F-Brendan O'Donnell (17 goals, 20 assists, 37 points in 53 games)

23-F-Brant Harris (19 goals, 15 assists, 34 points in 51 games)

20-D-Corey Syvret (7 goals, 21 assists, 28 points in 70 games)

30-G-Anthony Peters (27-15-2 record, 2.20 GAA, .920 Sv% in 46 games)

Head to Head

Playoff Series: Nailers 3, Everblades 2

Playoff Series at Germain Arena: Nailers 1, Everblades 1

Season Series: Nailers 2, Everblades 1

Season Series at WesBanco Arena: Nailers 0, Everblades 0

All-Time Series (Regular Season + Playoff): Everblades 15, Nailers 11

All-Time Series at Germain Arena (Regular Season + Playoff): Nailers 7, Everblades 7

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from April 25, 2016


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