ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Royals Game Day Snap Shot

Published on December 12, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (11-8-0-0, 22 PTS) at Reading Royals (10-8-1-1, 22 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(11-8-0-0, 22 PTS, 3rd North, T-8th East)

61 GF, 61 GA

PP: 22.9% (16-for-70), 3rd

PK: 82.6% (71-for-86), 12th

23-F-Riley Brace (9 goals, 18 assists, 27 points in 19 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points in 14 games)

16-F-Derek Army (7 goals, 5 assists, 12 points in 19 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (6 goals, 6 assists, 12 points in 19 games)

3-D-Morgan Ellis (2 goals, 7 assists, 9 points in 11 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points in 18 games)

9-D-David Makowski (1 goal, 6 assists, 7 points in 17 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (7-5-0 record, 3.44 GAA, .880 Sv% in 12 games)

READING ROYALS

(10-8-1-1, 22 PTS, 6th East, T-8th East)

67 GF, 68 GA

PP: 17.8% (18-for-101), 13th

PK: 81.2% (56-for-69), 21st

17-F-Adam Hughesman (8 goals, 15 assists, 23 points in 20 games)

28-F-Cam Reid (7 goals, 12 assists, 19 points in 20 games)

27-F-David Marshall (8 goals, 9 assists, 17 points in 18 games)

14-F-Pat Mullane (7 goals, 8 assists, 15 points in 20 games)

13-F-Olivier Labelle (5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points in 20 games)

16-F-Ryan Cruthers (3 goals, 10 assists, 13 points in 19 games)

2-D-Mike Marcou (3 goals, 10 assists, 13 points in 19 games)

1-G-Martin Ouellette (5-4-2 record, 2.83 GAA, .907 Sv% in 11 games)

Head-to-Head

2013-14 Season Series: Nailers 2, Royals 1

2013-14 Season Series at Santander Arena: Royals 1, Nailers 0

All-Time Series: Royals 76, Nailers 58

All-Time Series at Santander Arena: Royals 41, Nailers 27

Toledo Proved to be a Tough Test

The Wheeling Nailers will play their first road game in 19 days on Friday night, after posting a 4-2-0 record in six consecutive contests at WesBanco Arena. The first five games took place against teams from the East and Pacific Divisions, before division rival Toledo made its first visit on Wednesday night. Although Wheeling never led in the game, it battled back to tie the Walleye on two occasions, as Zack Torquato and Derek Army both found the back of the net, with Army doing so for the third straight game. Unfortunately, Toledo had the final say, breaking a 2-2 deadlock in the third period, before killing a two-man advantage, and adding an insurance marker in the final minute for a 4-2 final score.

Defense was a Necessity

The Reading Royals have had four days off, since they last took the ice for the second of back-to-back games on Sunday afternoon against the South Carolina Stingrays. In the three games leading up to Sunday, the Royals had difficulty keeping the puck out of their own net, allowing eight goals to Greenville, six to Toledo, and four to South Carolina. However, on Sunday, Martin Ouellette brought one of his best professional performances to the rink, blocking all 24 shots he faced in a 2-0 shutout win over the Stingrays. Both of Reading's goals came in the third period, as David Marshall and Adam Hughesman both netted their eighth tallies of the campaign. Former Royal Brandon Anderson took the loss in his return to Santander Arena.

Manning Up on the Man Advantage

In six of Wheeling's last eight games, the team with the higher number of power play goals has come away with the two points. On Wednesday night, the Nailers failed to score on the man advantage for the first time on their six-game homestand, while the Walleye connected on one of three attempts with the top ranked unit in the ECHL. Wheeling's power play continues to be ranked third in the league with a 22.9% success rate. The Royals have scored just one power play goal in their last five games, placing them 13th in the ECHL. In 20 games this season, Reading has received 32 more power plays than its opposition (101-69). A three-goal outburst by South Carolina on Friday dropped the Royals' penalty kill to 21st.

Lots of Time at Home

Only two teams in the Eastern Conference (Elmira 15, South Carolina 14) have played more home games to start the 2014-15 season than the Royals, who will take the ice for the 14th time at Santander Arena on Friday night. Reading has had an up-and-down season on home ice, going 6-6-1 in its first 13 contests, including a 4-3-1 mark on a ten-game homestand, which concludes on Saturday night. The two-game set with Wheeling will be the Royals' sixth multiple game set at home against an opponent this season, having gone 1-1-3 (5-5 in games) in the prior five. Friday night will be the Nailers' first road game since November 23rd, when they blanked the Elmira Jackals 2-0 at First Arena. It is also Wheeling's ninth road contest out of 20 tilts overall.

A December Mini-Series

Friday night marks the fourth head-to-head meeting between the Nailers and Royals this season, as well as the second of six battles between the two teams at Santander Arena. Wheeling currently owns a 2-1 lead in the season series, as the home team has won each of the first three clashes. After the Nailers doubled up the Royals 6-3 on Opening Night, the two sides split a pair of games in three days, with Reading winning 3-1 on October 30th, and Wheeling bouncing back with a 4-3 victory on November 1st. This is the second of three scenarios this season which have the Nailers and Royals playing back-to-back games, and the only such scenario in which two straight games take place in Reading. This is the 135th historical game, with the Royals leading, 76-58, which includes a 41-27 mark on home ice.

The December 14th contest against the Reading Royals is a Family Funday, with $5 kids tickets available, a post game skate with the team, and a visit by the Good Zoo at Oglebay. On December 19th & 20th, Wheeling will host the Greenville Road Warriors. The 19th is a Frosty & Flat Screen Friday, presented by The Highlands & The Law Firm of Bordas and Bordas. There will also be a Max MacKay Poster Giveaway, courtesy of Rich and Shirley's Quick Print of Wheeling. The 20th is a season ticket redemption night and team picture giveaway (holiday edition).

Holiday packs are also available. For $49, fans can purchase the Elf Package, receiving four ticket vouchers, a t-shirt, and an autographed puck. For $99, fans can purchase the Reindeer Package, receiving ten ticket vouchers. For $129, fans can purchase the Santa Package, receiving four ticket vouchers, a replica jersey, and a Reebok hat.

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 December 12, 2014


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