Nailers at Royals Game Day Snap Shot
May 4, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
A Familiar Picture After Two
The Wheeling Nailers and Reading Royals enter game three of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series with the same series score as both clubs experienced in round one, 1-1. Wheeling won the opening game 4-1 on Friday at WesBanco Arena, and was in position for a second straight triumph, as it had a 2-1 lead after the second period. The Royals netted the lone goal of the opening stanza, before the Nailers battled back to go ahead in the middle frame. Matt Tabrum recorded the tying goal, when he followed up Derek Army's initial shot, banging in a rebound on the left side of the net. Later in the period, Wheeling converted on a 5-on-3, as Clark Seymour let a wrist shot go from the middle of the blueline, finding the right side of the cage. Seymour took a similar shot on a power play in the first period, but hit the post. The Nailers also rang the iron in the third period on a rocket by John McCarron, but unfortunately, couldn't put anymore between the posts, and Reading came back to win, 4-2. Brian Foster suffered his first defeat as a starting goalie in the playoffs, despite making 34 saves.
A Reversal of Roles
During the 11-game season series, the Nailers typically played the role of the comeback kids against the Royals, as four of their seven victories occurred after trailing at one point in the contest. Only one of Reading's four came via a comeback, but on Monday night, the visitors made a switch to the script. Kevin Goumas scored the lone goal in the first period, knuckling in a shot from the left face-off dot. After falling behind 2-1 in the middle stanza, the Royals rallied back in the third, starting with a power play marker, which came just ten seconds into a man advantage. Justin Crandall tipped in Maxim Lamarche's attempt from the left point. Reading then regained the lead on a 2-on-1 break, as Goumas fed Brandon Alderson for his team-leading seventh tally of the postseason. Ian Watters tacked on an insurance marker for a 4-2 final. Adam Morrison got the win in his first start of the series, turning away 29 of the 31 shots he faced.
Joining in on the Fun
Matt Tabrum and Clark Seymour became the tenth and 11th Nailers to light the lamp in the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs, as they did so during the second period of Monday's second game in the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series. Tabrum drew an assist from Derek Army, who was playing his first game of the postseason with Wheeling, after appearing with one with the AHL's Texas Stars. Jarrett Burton also assisted on that tally, while adding another helper on Seymour's goal, as he has already amassed four points in the first two games of the series. The Nailers started the playoffs with 20 players on their roster, before adding Burton, Army, and Zack Torquato from the AHL, who have combined to collect eight points in seven contests. Army and Burton are still in search of their first career playoff goals. Cody Wydo and Mathew Maione lead the goal department with five each, while Riley Brace's 11 points are tied for the most in the ECHL.
Using Both Can Be a Good Thing
While most followers believe that riding one hot goaltender through an entire playoff run is the way to go, ECHL teams are doing their best to try to prove that logic wrong. The Nailers faced their fourth different opposing netminder in eight games on Monday night, as Adam Morrison started game two for the Royals, after Martin Ouellette got the nod in game one. Despite playing well in his two games against Toledo, Morrison captured his first victory of the postseason, turning in a 29-save performance. Wheeling has also received wins from both of its masked men, as Brian Foster beat Florida three times and Reading once, while Franky Palazzese also backstopped a "W" over the Everblades. 13 of the 16 teams in the league have used at least two goaltenders at some point during the playoffs, with Adirondack's Ken Appleby, Fort Wayne's Pat Nagle, and Kalamazoo's Joel Martin (eliminated) serving as the only three to play in every minute of every game. Cincinnati's Brad Thiessen (elminated) and Idaho's Philippe Desrosiers haven't played in every minute, but do have all decisions for their respective squads.
Road Trips are Fun
Wednesday night is game three of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series between the Nailers and Royals, as well as the first of three battles at Santander Arena. Wheeling has enjoyed its time on the road this season, as it piled up 19 victories away from home during the regular campaign - the team's highest total since the 2005-06 season. The road success has continued into the playoffs, as the Nailers won two of their three clashes at Germain Arena in the opening round against the Everblades. Reading has also fared better on enemy ice, following up a 20-win regular season on the road with a 4-2 mark in the playoffs. The Royals were 1-2 at home in the first round against Toledo, dropping games four and six after winning game three. The Nailers were 3-2 in Pennsylvania this season, compiling their first winning road record against Reading since 2006-07. Wheeling is 3-1 on the road against the Royals in the playoffs all-time.
Wheeling Nailers (5-3) at Reading Royals (5-4)
WHEELING NAILERS
(5-3)
27 GF, 26 GA
PP: 15.0% (6-for-40), T-11th
PK: 84.3% (43-for-51), 7th
23-F-Riley Brace (3 goals, 8 assists, 11 points in 8 games)
18-D-Mathew Maione (5 goals, 5 assists, 10 points in 8 games)
25-F-John McCarron (4 goals, 5 assists, 9 points in 8 games)
11-F-Cody Wydo (5 goals, 3 assists, 8 points in 8 games)
24-F-Ty Loney (3 goals, 1 assist, 4 points in 8 games)
17-F-Jordan Kwas (2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points in 8 games)
31-G-Brian Foster (4-2 record, 2.72 GAA, .913 Sv% in 6 games)
(37-26-5-4, 83 PTS, 2nd North, 5th East)
214 GF, 211 GA
PP: 17.8% (48-for-269), 9th
PK: 83.6% (225-for-269), 15th
23-F-Riley Brace (26 goals, 41 assists, 67 points in 56 games)
18-D-Mathew Maione (11 goals, 43 assists, 54 points in 70 games)
11-F-Cody Wydo (23 goals, 27 assists, 50 points in 59 games)
25-F-John McCarron (14 goals, 17 assists, 31 points in 51 games)
17-F-Jordan Kwas (9 goals, 20 assists, 29 points in 60 games)
27-D-Brett Stern (7 goals, 17 assists, 24 points in 72 games)
31-G-Brian Foster (10-8-3, 2.70 GAA, .908 Sv% in 22 games)
READING ROYALS
(5-4)
27 GF, 25 GA
PP: 19.4% (7-for-36), 5th
PK: 82.5% (33-for-70), 9th
17-F-Kevin Goumas (4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points in 9 games)
18-F-Brandon Alderson (7 goals, 2 assists, 9 points in 9 games)
28-F-Cam Reid (3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points in 9 games)
10-F-Yannick Tifu (1 goal, 6 assists, 7 points in 9 games)
19-F-Justin Crandall (2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points in 9 games)
4-D-Maxim Lamarche (1 goal, 5 assists, 6 points in 9 games)
39-G-Adam Morrison (1-2 record, 1.82 GAA, .929 Sv% in 3 games)
(36-26-6-4, 82 PTS, 3rd East, 8th East)
222 GF, 194 GA
PP: 18.6% (51-for-274), 6th
PK: 83.5% (203-for-243), 16th
19-F-Justin Crandall (17 goals, 38 assists, 55 points in 54 games)
28-F-Cam Reid (18 goals, 30 assists, 48 points in 58 games)
10-F-Yannick Tifu (19 goals, 26 assists, 45 points in 66 games)
55-F-Michael Pelech (11 goals, 33 assists, 44 points in 70 games)
14-F-Mike Pereira (19 goals, 24 assists, 43 points in 47 games)
11-D-Adam Comrie (15 goals, 19 assists, 34 points in 39 games)
39-G-Adam Morrison (7-4-6 record, 2.29 GAA, .926 Sv% in 18 games)
Head to Head
Playoff Series: Nailers 1, Royals 1
Playoff Series at Santander Arena: First Game
Season Series: Nailers 7, Royals 4
Season Series at Santander Arena: Nailers 3, Royals 2
All-Time Series (Regular Season + Playoff): Royals 85, Nailers 71
All-Time Series at Santander Arena (Regular Season + Playoff): Royals 48, Nailers 34
ECHL Stories from May 4, 2016
- Americans Grab Series Lead - Allen Americans
- Mavericks Fall 5-1 in Game 3 to Allen Americans - Kansas City Mavericks
- Morrison Backstops Royals to Win in Game Three - Wheeling Nailers
- ECHL Transactions - May 4 - ECHL
- Americans Return to Allen with Home-Ice Advantage After the Split in Missouri - Allen Americans
- Nailers at Royals Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- ECHL Today - May 4 - ECHL
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