ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Royals Game Day Snap Shot

February 9, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


WHEELING NAILERS

(21-18-1-5, 48 PTS, 2nd Atlantic, 10th East)

116 GF, 131 GA

PP: 13.0% (21-for-162), 18th

PK: 84.1% (159-for-189), 13th

21-F-Sahir Gill (9 goals, 23 assists, 32 points in 40 games)

2-D-Mike Ratchuk (7 goals, 18 assists, 25 points in 42 games)

7-F-Max MacKay (11 goals, 12 assists, 23 points in 33 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (7 goals, 12 assists, 19 points in 40 games)

22-F-Jack MacLellan (10 goals, 6 assists, 16 points in 29 games)

16-F-Cody Sylvester (11 goals, 4 assists, 15 points in 26 games)

1-G-Mike Condon (14-10-4 record, 2.53 GAA, .920 Sv% in 28 games)

READING ROYALS

(25-16-1-0, 51 PTS, 1st Atlantic, T-5th East)

128 GF, 110 GA

PP: 15.5% (25-for-161), 10th

PK: 86.4% (127-for-147), 6th

10-F-Yannick Tifu (12 goals, 20 assists, 32 points in 42 games)

14-F-TJ Syner (13 goals, 15 assists, 28 points in 31 games)

16-F-Ryan Cruthers (10 goals, 17 assists, 27 points in 24 games)

15-F-Sean Wiles (11 goals, 15 assists, 26 points in 27 games)

18-F-Domenic Monardo (12 goals, 11 assists, 23 points in 41 games)

11-D-Michal Cajkovsky (7 goals, 11 assists, 18 points in 37 games)

33-G-Brandon Anderson (12-7-1 record, 2.52 GAA, .904 Sv% in 21 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Royals 6, Nailers 2

Season Series at Santander Arena: Royals 3, Nailers 1

All-Time Series: Royals 72, Nailers 52

All-Time Series at Santander Arena: Royals 38, Nailers 25

Saving the Best for the Last Period

The third period has been the most successful frame for the 2013-14 Wheeling Nailers, and on Saturday night, that was certainly the case. With the score deadlocked at one after 40 minutes of play, the Nailers rallied for four goals, propelling themselves past the Reading Royals, 5-2. That marked Wheeling's third four-goal period of the season, and the second time it has occurred in the third. The victory was also the Nailers' eighth, when trailing at any point during a contest, including their seventh, when allowing the game's first goal.

Spoiling the Streak

Prior to Saturday night's game, the Royals had won each of their last six games at Santander Arena, dating back to the start of the streak on December 28th. The wins came against Elmira (2), Wheeling (2), Kalamazoo, and Toledo, as Reading turned its previously losing record at home (5-8-0-0 at the start) to a winning mark (11-9-0-0 currently) entering the weekend. During their championship run last spring, the Royals had great success on home ice, winning eight of ten playoff games in Reading, including each of the last five games (game 7 vs. Florida, games 1 & 2 vs. Cincinnati, games 1 & 2 vs. Stockton).

Bakker Breaks Out for Milestone Night

Wheeling rookie Shane Bakker will never be questioned about his work ethic, but for the first 23 games of his professional career, he had struggled to find the back of the net. That changed during the third period of Saturday night's contest, as Bakker broke through, scoring a shorthanded goal at the 8:19 mark, giving the Nailers a 4-1 lead. However, he wasn't finished there, as Shane added an even strength marker with 5:59 to go, ultimately completing his night with two goals, one assist, and three points, earning first star honors.

Killing Penalties Doesn't Kill the Offense

For the second time this season (January 17th in Greenville was the other), the Nailers found the back of the net twice, while playing on the penalty kill. On Saturday night, Denver Manderson tied the score at one, with his third goal of the season, before Shane Bakker's second shorthanded point of the campaign gave Wheeling an insurance tally for a 4-1 lead in the third. The Nailers rank fourth in the ECHL, having scored eight shorthanded goals this season, with six of those markers coming since January 11th, in a span of 12 games.

On the Board in Reading

Sunday afternoon marks the ninth of 15 meetings between the Nailers and Royals this season, as well as the fifth of eight clashes at Santander Arena. On Saturday night, Wheeling picked up its first victory of the campaign in Reading, handing the Royals just their third regulation loss of the season against a divisional opponent (all at home). Since the start of the 2011-12 season, the Nailers have been relatively successful at the newly renamed Santander Arena, posting a 6-6-1 record in 13 visits. Reading still owns a 6-2 lead in the season series, as well as a 72-52 advantage all-time. This is the first of three straight weeks featuring games between the two clubs.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 9, 2014


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