ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Road Warriors Game Day Snap Shot

Published on January 18, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING NAILERS

(16-14-1-5, 38 PTS, 2nd Atlantic, T-9th East)

96 GF, 112 GA

PP: 13.0% (16-for-123), 18th

PK: 83.9% (130-for-155), 16th

21-F-Sahir Gill (8 goals, 20 assists, 28 points in 31 games)

2-D-Mike Ratchuk (7 goals, 14 assists, 21 points in 35 games)

7-F-Max MacKay (8 goals, 10 assists, 18 points in 24 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (6 goals, 12 assists, 18 points in 36 games)

20-F-Jacob Lagace (5 goals, 7 assists, 12 points in 36 games)

22-F-Jack MacLellan (8 goals, 3 assists, 11 points in 20 games)

1-G-Mike Condon (11-7-4 record, 2.63 GAA, .917 Sv% in 22 games)

GREENVILLE ROAD WARRIORS

(18-16-2-1, 39 PTS, 4th South, 8th East)

98 GF, 100 GA

PP: 13.5% (17-for-126), 15th

PK: 89.5% (128-for-143), 1st

9-F-Andrew Rowe (9 goals, 17 assists, 26 points in 29 games)

17-F-Marc-Olivier Vallerand (11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points in 29 games)

39-F-Jordie Johnston (12 goals, 11 assists, 23 points in 37 games)

18-F-Michael St. Croix (7 goals, 16 assists, 23 points in 24 games)

14-F-Scott Arnold (9 goals, 6 assists, 15 points in 32 games)

22-D-Mike Marcou (4 goals, 11 assists, 15 points in 30 games)

31-G-Jason Missiaen (2-11-1 record, 3.83 GAA, .864 Sv% in 14 AHL games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Nailers 2, Road Warriors 0

Season Series at Bon Secours Wellness Arena: Nailers 1, Road Warriors 0

All-Time Series: Nailers 8 Road Warriors 8

All-Time Series at Bon Secours Wellness Arena: Road Warriors 5, Nailers 4

A Special Third Period Stopped the Skid

On Friday night, the Wheeling Nailers put their five-game winless streak to bed, while also stopping a four-game winning streak for the Greenville Road Warriors, thanks to a 5-2 triumph at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. With the game deadlocked at two after forty minutes of play, the Nailers struck for three goals in the third period, with all three tallies coming courtesy of special teams. Wheeling netted two shorthanded goals, including Chaz Johnson's game winning marker at 4:25, as well as a power play goal by Jacob Lagace, which added insurance during the final three minutes. Mike Condon made the win stand up in goal, denying 37 of the 39 shots he faced.

Birthdays are Cause for Celebration

Thus far this season, the Nailers have taken the ice twice on a player's birthday, and both times, that player has been able to celebrate their birthday by turning on the red light. On January 9th, Jacob Lagace celebrated his 24th birthday by scoring a goal, before Max MacKay took his turn on Friday night. MacKay celebrated his 23rd birthday by netting both first period markers for Wheeling, as the visitors built a 2-1 lead entering intermission. The two-goal game was the second of Max's career, with the first taking place on March 3rd, 2013 against Kalamazoo. The Salt Lake City, UT native now has at least one point in five straight games.

Condon and the Killers Step Up

One of the keys to a successful penalty kill is great goaltending, and the Nailers received that from Mike Condon on Friday night, as he made 37 saves on 39 shots, including a perfect 15-for-15 performance in the third period. Condon's efforts helped his team to a 4-for-4 night on the penalty kill, marking just the second time in 15 games that Wheeling did not surrender a power play goal. But, that wasn't all the penalty kill did, as Chaz Johnson and Cody Sylvester both tallied shorthanded goals, lifting the Nailers into a tie for sixth place in the ECHL with five shorties on the season.

Vallerand the Lone Bright Spot

Marc-Olivier Vallerand is currently playing in his fourth season of professional hockey, spending all but 11 games as a member of the Greenville Road Warriors. During his time with Greenville, Vallerand has built up the reputation for being a top scorer, as his 200 career points in 220 games are the most in team history. On Friday night, Marc-Olivier was the lone bright spot for the Road Warriors, as he accounted for both of his team's goals in the 5-2 setback.

Donatelli Era Evens the All-Time Series

Between the days of both the Grrrowl and Road Warriors, the Nailers had failed to get a victory in nine regular season games against Greenville, prior to the 2011-12 season. Wheeling began to turn the tide, winning four postseason games against the Road Warriors in 2011, as well as the regular season opener the next year under Stan Drulia. However, the majority of the Nailers' success against Greenville has come with Clark Donatelli behind the bench, as Wheeling's win on Friday evened the all-time series against the Road Warriors at 8-8. The Nailers are 7-1-1 against Greenville under Donatelli's tutelage.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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