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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Fuel Game Day Snap Shot

March 7, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (26-26-1-0, 53 PTS) at Indy Fuel (24-23-4-4, 56 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(26-26-1-0, 53 PTS, 6th North, 12th East)

157 GF, 162 GA

PP: 17.2% (36-for-209), 13th

PK: 83.8% (186-for-222), 11th

23-F-Riley Brace (16 goals, 35 assists, 51 points in 42 games)

16-F-Derek Army (20 goals, 23 assists, 43 points in 53 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (12 goals, 31 assists, 43 points in 40 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (13 goals, 18 assists, 31 points in 49 games)

20-F-Jarrett Burton (9 goals, 14 assists, 23 points in 37 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (11 goals, 8 assists, 19 points in 48 games)

9-D-David Makowski (6 goals, 7 assists, 13 points in 32 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (14-16-0 record, 3.13 GAA, .902 Sv% in 31 games)

INDY FUEL

(24-23-4-4, 56 PTS, 5th North, 11th East)

151 GF, 171 GA

PP: 20.1% (44-for-219), 5th

PK: 83.4% (166-for-199), 13th

41-F-Garett Bembridge (20 goals, 21 assists, 41 points in 52 games)

11-F-Kyle Stroh (18 goals, 17 assists, 35 points in 56 games)

4-D-Nick Bruneteau (3 goals, 27 assists, 30 points in 49 games)

14-F-Mike Duco (15 goals, 13 assists, 28 points in 50 games)

9-F-Rhett Bly (10 goals, 17 assists, 27 points in 54 games)

16-F-Pete Massar (9 goals, 15 assists, 24 points in 40 games)

25-D-Justin Holl (4 goals, 20 assists, 24 points in 49 games)

35-G-Mac Carruth (13-10-4 record, 2.51 GAA, .916 Sv% in 28 games)

Head-to-Head

Season/All-Time Series: Fuel 2, Nailers 1

Season/All-Time Series at Indiana Farmers Coliseum: Fuel 1, Nailers 0

Exclamation Point for the Homestand

The Wheeling Nailers played four games in five days last weekend, leading into the start of this week, with all four tilts taking place at WesBanco Arena. After going 1-1-1 in the first three contests, Wheeling battled the Elmira Jackals on Tuesday, in hopes of securing a winning record during the homestand. Not only did the Nailers succeed, but they also tied their season mark for most lopsided victory. Jarrett Burton and Riley Brace scored in the first period, Zack Torquato and Tyler Fernandez lit the lamp in the middle frame, and Chaz Johnson tacked on one more in the third for a 5-0 final score. Franky Palazzese earned his first professional shutout with 26 saves, while Wheeling chased an opposing netminder for the first time in 2014-15, ending Travis Fullerton's night during the second period.

Fuel are on Fire

The Indy Fuel are in the midst of their first season in team history, and due to the drastic ups and downs that have been experienced, it could be considered one of the more memorable campaigns in ECHL history. Indy began the season with a 6-21-6 record, struggling to find its way out of the cellar in the North Division. However, a 3-0 victory in Wheeling started to turn the tide for the Fuel, who have posted a remarkable 18-2-2 mark in their last 22 games, climbing above .500 for the first time ever. Each of Indy's last three wins have required extra time, as the Fuel earned back-to-back triumphs at Fort Wayne last weekend, before a 5-4 shootout victory on Friday night at Evansville. Shane Owen and Mac Carruth combined for 127 saves in the three games.

It Starts in the Crease

Most hockey teams would agree that a major reason for success starts with goaltending, and both the Nailers and Fuel have received stellar performances in their respective creases in recent games. For Wheeling, Franky Palazzese backstopped his first career shutout on Tuesday, thwarting all 26 attempts sent his way by the Elmira Jackals. The rookie netminder has won three of his last four starts for the Nailers, making 146 saves on 152 shots (.961 save percentage) in the process. On the opposite side of Saturday night's sheet are Shane Owen and Mac Carruth. After going 6-11-0 with the Stockton Thunder, Owen has gone 6-2-2 in an Indy uniform, while Carruth has experienced the ultimate turnaround season, starting out 1-9-4, before going 12-1-0 in his most recent 13 decisions, bringing his overall mark to 13-10-4.

Road Games Righted the Ship

In addition to goaltending, one area where Indy saw its greatest improvement to turn the season around was its play away from Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The Fuel were winless in their first 13 games (0-12-1) on enemy ice, and in a bizarre twist, they haven't lost a regulation game on the road since, going 12-0-2 in their last 14 games as the visiting club. The Nailers are one of the better home teams in the Eastern Conference (17-9-1), but have had their struggles in opposition buildings, going 9-17-0 in their first 26 affairs. Wheeling is in search of its third two-game road winning streak of the season, while also looking for a win in its eighth different location besides WesBanco Arena. Historically, Fort Wayne is the lone Indiana city that has seen a Nailers victory.

Wanting to Square the Inaugural Series

Saturday night marks the fourth and final head-to-head meeting between the Nailers and Fuel this season, as well as the second battle between the two clubs at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Wheeling and Indy haven't seen much of each other in recent months, as the two sides split a home-and-home series in November, before the Fuel earned a 3-0 win at WesBanco Arena on January 11th. The Nailers' lone prior trip to Indiana Farmers Coliseum took place on November 15th. Despite Patrick McGrath's first pro goal, as well as a shorthanded tally by Riley Brace, Wheeling fell 3-2. Brace's four points lead all active skaters in scoring during the season series, which is currently led by Indy, 2-1.

The Nailers next homestand will take place from March 13th-17th.

Friday the 13th will be a 7:35 face-off in a key North Divsion tilt against the Kalamazoo Wings. One lucky fan will leave with a new TV on Flat Screen Friday, while 2,000 fans will get a free player poster. That night will also be a Frosty Friday.

On Saturday the 14th, the Stanley Cup comes to WesBanco Arena, as Wheeling faces Elmira at 7:35. Three other NHL trophies will be on display on Memorabilia Night, which will also feature a trading card set giveaway and post game autograph session. The Pittsburgh Pirate Parrot will be at the game as well.

Tuesday the 17th is a 7:05 clash with the Toledo Walleye on St. Patrick's Day. Kids tickets will be $5.

Wheeling Nailers 2015-16 season tickets, as well as flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets for 2014-15 are on sale now. For more information, call 304-234-GOAL or visit wheelingnailers.com.

Listen to all Nailers regular season and post-season games live on the Valley's rock station EAGLE 107.5 FM, on www.iheartradio.com or watch live on www.echl.tv. Catch every road game live on WLUTV on Comcast Cable 14.

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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.

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