Sports stats



ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Royals Game Day Snap Shot

April 8, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (33-33-1-1, 68 PTS) at Reading Royals (44-19-4-2, 94 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(33-33-1-1, 68 PTS, 5th North, 11th East)

196 GF, 206 GA

PP: 17.0% (44-for-259), 13th

PK: 83.9% (234-for-279), 8th

23-F-Riley Brace (18 goals, 44 assists, 62 points in 57 games)

16-F-Derek Army (27 goals, 34 assists, 61 points in 68 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (18 goals, 39 assists, 57 points in 55 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (16 goals, 21 assists, 37 points in 60 games)

20-F-Jarrett Burton (12 goals, 16 assists, 28 points in 52 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (16 goals, 10 assists, 26 points in 60 games)

9-D-David Makowski (7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points in 40 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (17-19-1 record, 2.98 GAA, .908 Sv% in 38 games)

READING ROYALS

(44-19-4-2, 94 PTS, 3rd East, 5th East)

254 GF, 204 GA

PP: 19.7% (55-for-279), 6th

PK: 83.7% (206-for-246), 10th

13-F-Olivier Labelle (29 goals, 40 assists, 69 points in 69 games)

17-F-Adam Hughesman (23 goals, 43 assists, 66 points in 66 games)

14-F-Pat Mullane (23 goals, 39 assists, 62 points in 69 games)

27-F-David Marshall (23 goals, 27 assists, 50 points in 58 games)

16-F-Ryan Cruthers (15 goals, 35 assists, 50 points in 63 games)

15-F-Sean Wiles (23 goals, 19 assists, 42 points in 64 games)

2-D-Mike Marcou (6 goals, 29 assists, 35 points in 64 games)

30-G-Connor Knapp (23-10-4 record, 2.64 GAA, .912 Sv% in 39 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Nailers 6, Royals 5

Season Series at Santander Arena: Royals 5, Nailers 0

All-Time Series: Royals 80, Nailers 62

All-Time Series at Santander Arena: Royals 45, Nailers 27

Turning the Page on a New Week

The Wheeling Nailers entered last week in control of their own destiny, but three straight setbacks to the Elmira Jackals, Evansville IceMen, and Kalamazoo Wings have put the Nailers three points out of the North Division's final playoff spot with four games remaining, including one in hand. Saturday's game in Kalamazoo had a positive start, as Adam Krause netted his first professional goal at the 76-second mark of the opening stanza. That tally may have awoken the Wings, who answered back with a pair of goals in the first period, before taking a two-goal advantage in the second. Derek Army's team-leading 27th marker of the season brought Wheeling within one, but Kalamazoo salted away its 5-2 win with two more insurance goals in the third.

Two Out of Three in the Sunshine State

The Reading Royals brought an offense that was as hot as the weather to sunny Florida last week, as they lit the lamp 14 times, while going 2-1-0 in three contests against the Florida Everblades and Orlando Solar Bears. Reading opened with back-to-back wins against the Everblades, which temporarily prevented Florida from locking up the East Division Title. However, things didn't go as smoothly on Saturday, as the Royals jumped out to a 2-0 lead in Orlando, before watching the Solar Bears rally from a 4-3 deficit in the third period for a 5-4 victory at Amway Center. Olivier Labelle and Adam Hughesman were the most productive players on the trip, as both players registered three goals and three assists.

What They're Playing For

Both teams will have something on the line, as they enter the final week of the 2014-15 regular season. Wednesday will be the 69th game on the docket for Wheeling, who enters play three points back of the Cincinnati Cyclones for the fourth and final playoff spot in the North Division. Cincinnati begins a three-game road trip on Wednesday night, when it visits the Fort Wayne Komets. Meanwhile, the Royals know that they will be part of the big dance, and even know that they will be playing against the South Carolina Stingrays. The one unknown is home ice advantage. The Stingrays currently own a one-point lead, but have just one game remaining to Reading's three.

An Award and a Pair of Milestones

Forward Derek Army received some exciting news on Wednesday, as he was named to the 2014-15 ECHL All-Rookie Team. Army becomes the 13th player in team history to receive that honor, as he leads the Nailers with 27 goals and is second on the club with 61 points, in his first full season out of Providence College. Forward Adam Krause will be looking for an equally impressive year next season, after getting off to a strong start in his professional career with his first goal on Saturday night in Kalamazoo. Third year defenseman Paul Cianfrini will be looking at a different number on Wednesday, when he appears in his 200th professional game. Cianfrini began his career with the Toledo Walleye, while also spending time with the Trenton Titans and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, in addition to what will be his 144th game as a Nailer.

The Road Team is Due

Wednesday night marks the 12th and final head-to-head meeting between the Nailers and Royals this season, as well as the sixth battle between the two clubs at Santander Arena. The first 11 tilts have all been won by the home team, as Wheeling swept six contests in West Virginia, while Reading has come out on top in each of the first five games played in Pennsylvania. The most recent confrontation was highlighted by 147 combined penalty minutes at WesBanco Arena, in addition to a 5-2 win for the Nailers. Zack Torquato's two goals in the third period capped off the victory. In addition to having the chance to end the string of home team triumphs, Wheeling will also have the opportunity to win a season series against Reading for the first time since 2006-07. The Nailers' current seven-game home winning streak is the longest in the all-time series, while the Royals' current five-game home winning streak ties their all-time mark.

The Nailers have one home game remaining in the 2014-15 regular season, with a 7:35 battle against the Elmira Jackals on April 10th . That night will be a Flat Screen Friday, Frosty Friday, and Player Poster Giveaway, in addition to Fan Appreciation Night.

Wheeling Nailers 2015-16 season tickets, as well as flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets for 2014-15 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



ECHL Stories from April 8, 2015


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Wheeling Nailers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central