ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Komets Game Day Snap Shot

February 16, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING NAILERS

(24-19-1-5, 54 PTS, 2nd Atlantic, 9th East)

129 GF, 140 GA

PP: 13.7% (24-for-175), 18th

PK: 84.0% (173-for-206), 12th

21-F-Sahir Gill (10 goals, 26 assists, 36 points in 44 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (9 goals, 25 assists, 34 points in 27 games)

2-D-Mike Ratchuk (10 goals, 19 assists, 29 points in 46 games)

7-F-Max MacKay (11 goals, 15 assists, 26 points in 37 games)

17-F-Carter Rowney (8 goals, 14 assists, 22 points in 24 games)

27-F-Denver Manderson (6 goals, 10 assists, 16 points in 16 games)

29-G-Peter Mannino (3-1-0 record, 1.44 GAA, .949 Sv% in 4 games)

FORT WAYNE KOMETS

(22-15-6-5, 55 PTS, 3rd North, T-6th East)

142 GF, 146 GA

PP: 14.1% (27-for-191), 15th

PK: 87.8% (159-for-181), 3rd

13-F-Brandon Marino (21 goals, 41 assists, 62 points in 48 games)

61-F-Chris Auger (22 goals, 18 assists, 40 points in 47 games)

94-F-Dean Ouellet (11 goals, 25 assists, 36 points in 45 games)

15-F-Mike Embach (19 goals, 16 assists, 35 points in 44 games)

9-F-Scott Fleming (11 goals, 23 assists, 34 points in 40 games)

17-D-Jace Coyle (7 goals, 20 assists, 27 points in 44 games)

35-G-Andrey Makarov (13-8-4 record, 2.74 GAA, .910 Sv% in 26 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Nailers 2, Komets 1

Season Series at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum: Nailers 2, Komets 0

All-Time Series: Nailers 4, Komets 1

All-Time Series at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum: Nailers 3, Komets 0

Home Sweep Home

The Wheeling Nailers played their final three home games in the month of February this week, taking care of business, as they swept the homestand with wins over the Toledo Walleye (4-1), Reading Royals (4-2), and Elmira Jackals (2-1). On Saturday night, Wheeling recorded its third shootout win of the 2013-14 season, as Barry Goers broke the deadlock with his goal in the eighth round. The Nailers outshot their opposition in all three victories during the week, extending their winning streak to six games, when they have the greater shots total. Wheeling is 9-4-0 in that scenario this season.

Pink Ice Ended Their Streak

Over the past few weeks, the Fort Wayne Komets have shot their way up the Eastern Conference Standings, thanks to an eight-game point streak, as the team compiled a 5-0-3 record. However, that streak came to an end on Saturday night, as the Komets traveled to Kalamazoo, where they battled the equally hot Wings, as well as a pink ice surface. Kalamazoo's Jordan Binnington turned in a 35-save performance, while five different players found the back of the net, as the host Wings picked up a 5-2 victory. Wheeling and Fort Wayne are currently separated by one point, entering play on Sunday.

Mannino Mastering the Shootout

Peter Mannino made his fourth start in a Wheeling uniform on Saturday night, and for the second time, he experienced a shootout. Similar to his first shootout, Mannino was the winning goaltender, as he turned away six of eight Elmira shooters, including two attempts when a goal would have won the game for the Jackals. On the season, Peter has now stopped 11 of the 13 shootout attempts that he has faced, giving him an .846 save percentage in that scenario. The Nailers' 3-1-0 backstop will make his second straight start on Sunday afternoon.

Blueliners Can Score, Too

Defenseman Mike Ratchuk was responsible for the Nailers' lone tally during regulation on Saturday night, as he netted his tenth goal of the season in the first period. During the shootout, it was just about automatic that Clark Donatelli was going tap his blueliner on the shoulder, and it paid off. Ratchuk scored his fourth goal in six shootout attempts, as he leads Wheeling in that category. Later in the shootout, Donatelli again turned to his blueline, as Barry Goers netted the decisive goal, breaking a 2-2 tie in the eighth round. Goers became the third different Nailer to score a shootout winner this season, as he improved the squad's shooting percentage to 27.5%. Wheeling goaltenders have stopped 64.1% of the attempts that they have faced.

Final Trip to the Fort

Sunday afternoon's game marks the fourth and final head-to-head meeting of the season between the Nailers and Komets. The road team has won each of the first three contests, as Wheeling won in Indiana 6-2 on November 8th and 5-4 on November 23rd, before Fort Wayne returned the favor with a 3-1 win at WesBanco Arena on January 29th. The Nailers are in search of their second straight season series win against the Komets, after winning both battles during the 2012-13 season - Fort Wayne's first in the ECHL.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 16, 2014


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