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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Fuel Game Day Snap Shot

December 10, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Battled Back to Get One

The Wheeling Nailers took until their 22nd game of the regular season to reach a shootout, while going past regulation for only the second time, when they faced the Elmira Jackals at WesBanco Arena on Sunday afternoon. Elmira netted a shorthanded goal and an even strength tally during the first period, opening up a 2-0 lead, despite being outshot, 14-7. However, the Nailers rallied back in the middle frame, as Ty Loney redirected Mathew Maione's left point shot, and Derek Army slammed in a one-timer from the slot, evening the score at two. Nothing was able to be settled in the third period or overtime, leading to the first best-of-three shootout of the campaign. The Jackals scored in the first and third rounds, while Wheeling was held scoreless. Niklas Lundstrom made 44 saves in the win, defeating Casey DeSmith, who stopped 22 of 24 shots in his first professional start.

Home Ice Didn't Help

The Indy Fuel left Indiana Farmers Coliseum for a five-game road trip on November 22nd with a 9-3-1 overall record, hoping to build on their early season success. However, the Fuel lost all five games, earning only one point in the standings to take back home with them. Indy returned home last week for three games in four days, but the Toledo Walleye and South Carolina Stingrays rained on the party, knocking off the Fuel, 4-2, 5-2, and 3-1. Garett Bembridge scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season in Sunday's defeat, which tied the game against South Carolina, before the Stingrays found the back of the net twice in the third period for the road win. Shane Owen and Mac Carruth have alternated decisions in five straight games, with Owen stopping 20 of 22 shots on Sunday.

That Escalated Quickly

Fans at WesBanco Arena had lots to cheer about during the second period of Sunday's clash with the Jackals, as the Nailers scored twice to tie the game, while also utilizing the team's signature toughness. Each team received four fighting majors during the middle frame for a game total of five per side. Two of Wheeling's went to Patrick McGrath, who took on 490 pounds worth of human being, as he tangled with Nick Petrecki and Garrett Klotz. McGrath is tied for second in the ECHL with seven fighting majors, behind Colorado's Darryl Bootland. Riley Brace, John McCarron, and Jarrett Burton also threw down the mitts, as the Nailers are tied for fifth in the league with 21 fighting majors. Indy has gone five consecutive games without a fight, and has been involved in 12 thus far this season.

Not Helping the Goalies

Shane Owen of the Fuel suffered is fourth loss of the season when allowing two goals or less on Sunday, as Indy's offense was only able to produce one goal on the offensive end. Owen ranks 15th in the ECHL with a 2.26 goals against average, but carries a 5-7-0 record into the week. His goaltending teammate Mac Carruth has a winning record at 4-3-2, with a 2.95 goals against average. Offense hasn't come easily for the Fuel, especially during their eight-game winless streak, as they have failed to light the lamp more than twice in any of the eight contests. Prior to that, Indy won five straight games, with Owen and Carruth combining to allow just seven goals. The bottom five teams in the ECHL in goals scored are all from the Western Conference, with Wichita (43) in the basement, followed by Evansville (50), Tulsa (50), Indy (52), and Fort Wayne (54). The Nailers rank tenth highest in the league in both goals scored (66) and goals against (68).

The First Ever "Circle City Clash"

Thursday night marks the first of three head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Fuel this season, as well as the first of two battles at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The two sides split a two-game series a year ago, with both clubs winning once at home, as Indy made its debut in the ECHL. The two home victories came in November, while the Fuel earned their first ever road win in Wheeling in January, and the Nailers returned the favor with a clutch 4-3 triumph in the Hoosier State in March. After being in the same division during the 2014-15 campaign, Wheeling and Indy are no longer in the same conference, which has helped the two organizations build up quite the friendship on Twitter, which is where the name "Circle City Clash" comes from. The Fuel will make their first visit of the year to WesBanco Arena on January 10th, before the Nailers travel to Indianapolis again seven days later.

Download the Nailers new smartphone app presented by Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration. Available in theiTunes and Google Play Store. Use promo code "Leader" to receive 100 Nailers points.

In addition to Nailers Rewards, the app also includes:

Notifications and Alerts

News Feed containing team news, photos & videos

Interact Feed containing Nailers posts on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

Team Summary

Roster

Team Stats and League Standings

View Schedule & Buy Tickets

Venue 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.

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Wheeling Nailers (11-9-1-1, 24 Pts.) at Indy Fuel (9-10-2-0, 20 Pts.)

WHEELING NAILERS

(11-9-1-1, 24 PTS, 2nd North, 7th East)

66 GF, 68 GA

PP: 15.8% (15-for-95), 21st

PK: 79.5% (66-for-83), 23rd

20-F-Jarrett Burton (9 goals, 11 assists, 20 points in 22 games)

23-F-Riley Brace (8 goals, 12 assists, 20 points in 22 games)

21-F-Sahir Gill (3 goals, 14 assists, 17 points in 21 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (10 goals, 3 assists, 13 points in 16 games)

27-D-Brett Stern (5 goals, 8 assists, 13 points in 22 games)

16-F-Derek Army (4 goals, 9 assists, 13 points in 15 games)

31-G-Brian Foster (4-5-1 record, 3.11 GAA, .905 Sv% in 10 games)

INDY FUEL

(9-10-2-0, 20 PTS, 4th Midwest, T-7th West)

52 GF, 61 GA

PP: 17.7% (11-for-62), 15th

PK: 86.0% (49-for-57), 5th

19-F-Alex Lavoie (6 goals, 11 assists, 17 points in 21 games)

41-F-Garett Bembridge (9 goals, 7 assists, 16 points in 21 games)

24-F-Dylan Clarke (5 goals, 8 assists, 13 points in 21 games)

22-D-Ben Marshall (2 goals, 9 assists, 11 points in 21 games)

27-D-Kevin Quick (10 assists, 10 points in 21 games)

7-F-Peter Schneider (4 goals, 5 assists, 9 points in 16 games)

35-G-Mac Carruth (4-3-2 record, 2.95 GAA, .907 Sv% in 9 games)

Head to Head

2014-15 Season Series: Nailers 2, Fuel 2

2014-15 Season Series at Indiana Farmers Coliseum: Nailers 1, Fuel 1

All-Time Series: Nailers 2, Fuel 2

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

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from December 10, 2015


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