ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Komets Game Day Snap Shot

Published on January 2, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (13-14-0-0, 26 PTS) at Fort Wayne Komets (23-6-1-0, 47 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(13-14-0-0, 26 PTS, 4th North, 10th East)

77 GF, 85 GA

PP: 19.2% (19-for-99), 9th

PK: 83.1% (98-for-118), 15th

16-F-Derek Army (10 goals, 10 assists, 20 points in 27 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points in 27 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points in 26 games)

3-D-Morgan Ellis (3 goals, 7 assists, 10 points in 19 games)

20-F-Jarrett Burton (2 goals, 7 assists, 9 points in 15 games)

8-D-Zach Yuen (3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points in 23 games)

30-G-Eric Hartzell (6-4-0 record, 2.39 GAA, .923 Sv% in 10 games)

FORT WAYNE KOMETS

(23-6-1-0, 47 PTS, 1st North, 1st East)

119 GF, 89 GA

PP: 19.0% (24-for-126), 10th

PK: 79.7% (98-for-123), 24th

27-F-Shawn Szydlowski (18 goals, 17 assists, 35 points in 30 games)

15-F-Mike Embach (11 goals, 21 assists, 32 points in 28 games)

72-F-Eric Faille (14 goals, 15 assists, 29 points in 30 games)

55-D-James Martin (6 goals, 20 assists, 26 points in 30 games)

36-F-Matthew Pistilli (9 goals, 15 assists, 24 points in 22 games)

19-F-Thomas Frazee (12 goals, 8 assists, 20 points in 30 games)

34-G-Roman Will (1-1-0 record, 3.53 GAA, .868 Sv% in 2 games)

Head-to-Head

2013-14 Season Series: Nailers 2, Komets 2

2013-14 Season Series at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum: Nailers 2, Komets 1

All-Time Series: Nailers 4, Komets 2

All-Time Series at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum: Nailers 3, Komets 1

Snagged One from the South

The Wheeling Nailers will begin the second half of their season long six-game road trip on Friday night, when they visit the Fort Wayne Komets. After dropping a pair of decisions to the South Carolina Stingrays last Saturday and Sunday, the Nailers rebounded to salvage a game from the south, picking up a 3-1 victory over the Gwinnett Gladiators on Monday night. Chaz Johnson opened the scoring for Wheeling less than three minutes into the contest, before adding his second of the evening during the middle stanza. Shawn Skelly also contributed to the offense, tipping in his first tally as a Nailer, while Eric Hartzell returned from the AHL with a 38-save effort to earn the win in goal.

Hoosier Daddies

The Fort Wayne Komets enter the weekend with the most points in the ECHL, having gone 23-6-1 in their first 30 games of the regular season. On Wednesday night, the Komets continued their dominance of in-state rival Indy, doubling up the Fuel, 6-3 at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Reigning ECHL Player of the Week Thomas Frazee led the way with two goals and three points, as Fort Wayne improved to 19-2-0 against North Division clubs not named Toledo. Offense has been a major reason for the Komets' success, as they have scored at least four goals in seven of their last eight games, while ranking third in the league with 119 tallies on the season. Fort Wayne will go outdoors to Fifth Third Field on Saturday to play the second game of Winterfest against the Toledo Walleye.

January Will Be a Journey

Home and road games will temporarily be even for the Nailers after Friday night, as they will play their 14th road game of the regular season, after having played 14 at WesBanco Arena. During the month of January, Wheeling will travel to four cities it has yet to visit in 2014-15, starting in Fort Wayne on Friday, continuing in Brampton on the 16th, 17th, and 18th, resuming in Toledo on the 25th, and concluding in Kalamazoo on the 30th and 31st. Thus far this season, the Nailers have secured four victories on enemy ice, doing so in four different buildings (SC, CIN, ELM, GWT). Eight of Wheeling's 14 January tilts will take place against the North Division, which the squad has gone 2-3-0 against in the first five of 28 games.

Loading up the Leader Board

With such a strong start to the season, it should come as no surprise that the Komets have their fair share of players among the league leaders. Shawn Szydlowski leads all scorers in the Eastern Conference with 18 goals and 35 points, while Mike Embach is tied for second in the conference with 11 goals and 32 points. On the blueline, James Martin holds the top spot in the ECHL, having collected six goals and 26 points, while Drew Daniels' +23 rating is tied for second best in the league. Fort Wayne also has a remarkable rookie, as Eric Faille's 29 points are the third most among first year players. Finally, between the pipes, Pat Nagle has 16 wins, to lead that category, including four victories in shootouts. Nagle is currently with the AHL's Rochester Americans.

Foreign Territory in the Fort

Friday night marks the first of four head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Komets this season, as well as the lone battle between the two clubs that will take place at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. This will be the second time in three years that Wheeling will travel to Fort Wayne only once during regular season play, as it did the same during the 2012-13 campaign. Last year, the two sides locked horns on four occasions, with the Nailers winning the first two, before the Komets tied the season series by coming out on top in the final two. Historically, Wheeling has defeated Fort Wayne in four of six games, including three of the four played in Indiana.

The Nailers will have a three-game homestand from January 9th-11th.

Reading comes to town on the 9th for Faith & Family Night, which will also be a Flat Screen Friday, courtesy of The Highlands, as well as the Law Firm of Bordas and Bordas. In addition, a player poster will be given to the first 2,000 fans in attendance, thanks to RSQP Print & Design.

Elmira is the opposition on the 10th, as the Nailers will be holding a Princess Party from 6-7. Only 100 tickets are available for the party. That game will also be the annual Girl Scout Night.

Finally, Indy pays a visit on the 11th for a Family Funday with $5 kids tickets, a post game skate with the team, and another Oglebay Good Zoo Day.

Wheeling Nailers 2014-15 season tickets, flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets 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.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from January 2, 2015


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