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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Jackals Game Day Snap Shot

January 30, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Starting on the Right Foot

The Wheeling Nailers began a stretch that will ultimately see them play ten of 12 games on the road on Friday night, when they made their first visit of the season to Elmira to face the Jackals. For the first time in six games, the Nailers scored the evening's opening goal, as Danny Fick found the back of the net just 63 seconds into the contest. Elmira tied things up 18 seconds into the middle frame, but Wheeling had an answer, thanks to Cody Wydo's tenth goal of the season. In the third period, the visitors iced their victory with two more goals, as Chris Ciotti tallied in his Nailers debut, and Matt Tabrum added the last insurance marker for the 4-1 final score. Franky Palazzese earned his tenth win of the year with 42 saves, and the penalty kill was perfect, going 5-for-5.

Home Struggles Continue

The Elmira Jackals will see a three-game homestand come to an end on Saturday night, when they play the second of back-to-back games against the Nailers. Thus far this week, the Jackals have suffered two losses, while being outscored by the opposition, 11-6. Since the turn of the calendar to January, First Arena hasn't exactly provided the comforts of home for Elmira, who has compiled a 1-7-0 record in its own back yard. Five of the Jackals' 12 home goals during the month came during Wednesday's 7-5 setback against the Reading Royals. In Saturday's tilt, Elmira received its lone tally from Cason Hohmann, who leads the club with 15 goals and 31 points. CJ Motte made his third straight start in goal, compiling 20 saves. Even though there are 17 days in between, the Jackals' next two home games are both against Wheeling.

Everyone Chips in to Execute the Basics

In Friday night's win, the Nailers completed lots of tasks which seem simple on paper, but over the last month, have been difficult to come by. Danny Fick's goal at 1:03 of the first period was Wheeling's fastest to open a game this season, and it marked just the fourth time in the last 14 games that the Nailers scored first. Fick's second goal of the campaign gave Wheeling its first lead after one period since January 8th. One goal each way in the middle stanza put the Nailers ahead after two periods for the first time since January 2nd, when they bounced Brampton, 5-1. The three-goal margin of victory was the team's first since December 18th in Quad City, ending a string of five straight three-goal decisions that went in the opposite direction. Eight of the nine forwards in Friday's lineup were on the ice for at least one Wheeling goal, with six of them recording at least one point, including Matt Tabrum, who collected his first career multiple point game.

Special Teams are Matches

When the Nailers and Jackals review the statistics heading into Saturday night's game, they will notice something very unique - both teams' power play rankings in the ECHL are identical to their penalty killing rankings. For the Nailers, power plays have been somewhat rare over the past two weeks, as they have had only five chances with the man advantage in their last three games. During that time, the penalty kill has been put to the test 13 times, as Wheeling's success rate has climbed to 83.9%, which ranks 15th in the league. Despite surrendering two power play goals at Indy on January 17th, the Nailers' penalty kill has been better on the road, as they enter Saturday at 85.9% away from WesBanco Arena. Both of Elmira's special teams are 24th in the ECHL. The Jackals have only been on the penalty kill four times in two games this week, giving up one goal on Wednesday against Reading.

Same Time, Same Place, Same Teams

Saturday night marks the third of six head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Jackals this season, as well as the second of three battles at First Arena. On Friday night, Wheeling secured its tenth victory in its last 15 trips to Elmira, thanks to one goal in each of the first two periods, and two more in the third. That triumph evened the season series, which has seen both clubs win on the opposition's home ice, following a 3-2 shootout victory by the Jackals back on December 6th. The win also pulled the Nailers ahead by one in the all-time series, which has featured 87 games in nine seasons - most of which took place from 2011-15. Wheeling will visit Elmira once more on February 17th, during the squad's season-long ten-day road trip, before the Jackals travel to the Ohio Valley for a two-game set on February 27th and 28th.

Wheeling Nailers (17-19-2-2, 38 Pts.) at Elmira Jackals (22-20-1-0, 45 Pts.)

WHEELING NAILERS

(17-19-2-2, 38 PTS, 3rd North, 13th East)

117 GF, 127 GA

PP: 16.5% (26-for-158), 15th

PK: 83.9% (135-for-161), 15th

20-F-Jarrett Burton (14 goals, 20 assists, 34 points in 40 games)

18-D-Mathew Maione (5 goals, 23 assists, 28 points in 38 games)

17-F-Anton Zlobin (7 goals, 11 assists, 18 points in 23 games)

16-F-Derek Army (6 goals, 11 assists, 17 points in 23 games)

11-F-Cody Wydo (10 goals, 6 assists, 16 points in 27 games)

27-D-Brett Stern (5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points in 40 games)

30-G-Casey DeSmith (1-2-1 record, 2.66 GAA, .909 Sv% in 5 games)

ELMIRA JACKALS

(22-20-1-0, 45 PTS, T-3rd East, T-8th East)

114 GF, 133 GA

PP: 14.1% (23-for-163), 24th

PK: 78.8% (123-for-156), 24th

10-F-Cason Hohmann (15 goals, 16 assists, 31 points in 31 games)

17-F-Mike Seidel (12 goals, 14 assists, 26 points in 41 games)

18-F-Colin Jacobs (10 goals, 14 assists, 24 points in 39 games)

9-F-Allan McPherson (10 goals, 11 assists, 21 points in 20 games)

23-D-Jacob MacDonald (9 goals, 11 assists, 20 points in 43 games)

11-F-Chris Langkow (2 goals, 17 assists, 19 points in 40 games)

29-G-Alex Vazzano (0-1-1 record, 1.71 GAA, .947 Sv% in 3 games)

Head to Head

Season Series: Nailers 1, Jackals 1

Season Series at First Arena: Nailers 1, Jackals 0

All-Time Series: Nailers 44, Jackals 43

All-Time Series at First Arena: Jackals 27, Nailers 18

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from January 30, 2016


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