
Nailers at Stingrays Game Day Snap Shot
December 28, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Wheeling Nailers (14-8-0-5, 33 PTS) at South Carolina Stingrays (20-5-1-2, 43 PTS)
WHEELING NAILERS
(14-8-0-5, 33 PTS, 1st Atlantic, T-4th East)
77 GF, 75 GA
PP: 12.0% (12-for-100), 17th
PK: 87.9% (109-for-124), 5th
17-F-Carter Rowney (7 goals, 13 assists, 20 points in 21 games)
21-F-Sahir Gill (7 goals, 12 assists, 19 points in 22 games)
2-D-Mike Ratchuk (7 goals, 11 assists, 18 points in 27 games)
98-F-Chaz Johnson (4 goals, 9 assists, 13 points in 27 games)
7-F-Max MacKay (4 goals, 7 assists, 11 points in 17 games)
29-G-Alex Westlund (0-1-0 record, 3.05 GAA, .914 Sv% in 1 game)
SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS
(20-5-1-2, 43 PTS, 1st South, 1st East)
90 GF, 59 GA
PP: 17.5% (18-for-103), 6th
PK: 85.7% (84-for-98), 13th
26-F-Peter Boyd (7 goals, 15 assists, 22 points in 27 games)
19-F-Wayne Simpson (8 goals, 7 assists, 15 points in 22 games)
22-F-Patrick Gaul (5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points in 25 games)
7-F-Lindsay Sparks (5 goals, 5 assists, 10 points in 17 games)
8-D-Jeremy Price (2 goals, 6 assists, 8 points in 25 games)
35-G-Jeff Jakaitis (15-1-3 record, 1.72 GAA, .938 Sv% in 19 games)
Head-to-Head
2012-13 Season Series: Nailers 1, Stingrays 1
2012-13 Season Series at North Charleston Coliseum: Stingrays 1, Nailers 0
All-Time Series: Nailers 9, Stingrays 8
All-Time Series at North Charleston Coliseum: Stingrays 5, Nailers 4
No Southern Hospitality in Gwinnett
On Friday night, the Wheeling Nailers returned from the holiday break, as they played their first road game against a South Division opponent. Despite their position in the standings, the Gwinnett Gladiators made life difficult on a pair of division leaders, as the squeaked past South Carolina 3-2 on Thursday, before knocking off the Nailers 4-1 on Friday. Sahir Gill netted his seventh goal of the season for Wheeling, jumping into the top ten in the ECHL in rookie scoring, while Mike Ratchuk moved into a tie for second place in defensive scoring with an assist. Alex Westlund made his season debut, turning aside 32 of the 35 shots he faced.
A Rare Visit from the Atlantic
Saturday night will be the first time that the South Carolina Stingrays face a team from the Atlantic Division since opening weekend, when they split a pair of games against the Reading Royals at Santander Arena. Prior to their upcoming clash with Wheeling, the Stingrays had played each of their last nine games against South Division rivals, going 6-3. South Carolina will play host to Elmira on Tuesday, concluding a brief two-game homestand.
Division Leaders Lock Horns
For the third time this season, the Nailers will be involved in a game featuring a pair of division leaders, as they clash with the Stingrays. Wheeling is at the top of the Atlantic Division, entering play with a 14-8-0-5 record, while South Carolina leads the South Division, entering the contest with a 20-5-1-2 mark. The Stingrays currently own the second best record in the ECHL, trailing only the Ontario Reign, who have 44 points.
Never Lost His Touch
After winning 2011-12 ECHL Goaltender of the Year honors as a member of the Gwinnett Gladiators, Jeff Jakaitis didn't appear in a regular season game last year until the middle of December. However, this season, the 30-year old has quickly regained his form, performing as one of the top netminders in the league. In 19 games with the Stingrays, Jakaitis has posted a remarkable 15-1-3 record, while leading the ECHL with a 1.72 goals against average and a .938 save percentage. On Friday night, Jeff earned his 75th career ECHL win, making 40 saves to defeat the Greenville Road Warriors.
Someone Will Win This Season's Series
The Nailers and Stingrays have split both of their last two season series, but in 2013-14, that won't be an option, as Saturday night's contest is the lone head-to-head meeting on the schedule. After the two sides both won on enemy ice during the 2011-12 campaign, last season was all about home goaltending. On December 29th, Ryan Zapolski stopped all 23 Wheeling shots he faced, for a 3-0 win, before Peter Delmas denied all 20 South Carolina shots he faced, picking up a 5-0 victory on January 13th. Although both clubs have existed for over 20 years, there have only been 17 all-time clashes between the two, with the Nailers currently holding a 9-8 advantage.
ECHL Stories from December 28, 2013
- Royals Snap Skid at Home with Win over Kalamazoo, 5-2 - Reading Royals
- Eagles Fall to Grizzlies 5-3 - Colorado Eagles
- K-Wings' road winning streak snapped at six games - Kalamazoo Wings
- Everblades Come Back to Drop Solar Bears 3-2 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Everblades Come Back to Drop Solar Bears 3-2 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Cyclones Feast on Walleye, 7-3 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Rowe Celebrates 200th Pro Game in Road Warriors' Win - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Jakaitis Stings Nailers with 21-Save Shutout - Wheeling Nailers
- Jackals Turned Back By Road Warriors - Elmira Jackals
- Henrion, Henry Rally Blades Past Orlando - Florida Everblades
- Jakaitis Blanks Nailers on Holiday Holdover Troops Night - South Carolina Stingrays
- Thunder Open Weekend with 5-2 Loss to Bulls - Stockton Thunder
- Thunder Look for Revenge against Bulls - Stockton Thunder
- Nailers at Stingrays Game Day Snap Shot - Wheeling Nailers
- Forwards Bryson Busniuk and Dave Jarman Join Stingrays; Defenseman Steve Spinell Recalled to Provide - South Carolina Stingrays
- Solar Bears Acquire Lang from Komets - Orlando Solar Bears
- Komets Acquire Veteran Center David Rutherford; Trade with Solar Bears Deals Mickey Lang to Orlando - Fort Wayne Komets
- Gameday: Everblades at Solar Bears, December 28, 2013 - Florida Everblades
- Forward Sean Wiles Returned to Reading - Reading Royals
- One Goes Up, One Comes Down from the AHL - Idaho Steelheads
- Many Moves for the Walleye - Toledo Walleye
- Bulls and Thunder Meet in Stockton - San Francisco Bulls
- ECHL Transactions - December 28 - ECHL
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspension - ECHL
- Matczak Loaned to Adirondack - Kalamazoo Wings
- Cyclones Game Preview - Cincinnati at Toledo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Florida Everblades - December 28 - Orlando Solar Bears
- Game Preview: Road Warriors vs. Jackals December 28, 2013 - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Elmira Jackals Game Preview at Greenville - Elmira Jackals
- ECHL Today - December 28 - ECHL
- Nailers Make Four Player Moves - Wheeling Nailers
- Ontario survives Aces two goal comeback in series opener - Alaska Aces
- South Carolina Stingrays Game Preview: Stingrays Host Nailers on Holiday Holdover Troops Night Tonig - South Carolina Stingrays
- Reign Double up Aces in 4-2 Win - Ontario Reign
- Bulls Earn Beautiful 5-2 Win over Stockton in Ugly Sweater Jerseys - San Francisco Bulls
- Steelheads Beat Wranglers, 5-2 - Las Vegas Wranglers
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.
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