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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Thunder Game Day Snap Shot

February 16, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


A Bump in the Road Trip

The Wheeling Nailers ran into some tough times on Sunday afternoon, as they played the second of six consecutive road games at Verizon Wireless Arena against the East Division leading Manchester Monarchs. The Nailers found themselves in a difficult position early, as the Monarchs scored on their first shot of the day, needing just 52 seconds to take the lead. Manchester turned on the red light twice more in the opening stanza, grabbing a 3-0 advantage on the scoreboard, despite being outshot 12-7. Wheeling attempted a comeback in the second period, as Mathew Maione and Connor Leen found the back of the net, but the smallest the deficit got was two, before the Monarchs salted away a 6-2 win with two more markers in the third. The Nailers set a season-high with 46 shots on goal, but Colin Stevens stopped 44 of them in the winning effort. Brian Foster gave up three goals on seven shots, before Casey DeSmith finished with 24 saves on 26 shots.

Back in the Win Column

The Adirondack Thunder had been experiencing one of their most challenging stretches of the season, as they entered Sunday having won just two of their last ten games. After dropping a 5-2 decision to Wheeling on Friday, the Thunder traveled to Reading, where they fell to the Royals, 4-1 on Saturday. However, Adirondack was able to respond on Sunday against the Royals, as Gunnar Hughes and Dana Fraser staked the Thunder to a 2-0 lead before the game was four minutes old. Nick Luukko brought Reading within one during the middle frame, but Adirondack was able to finish off the victory in the third period, getting insurance markers from Michael Kirkpatrick and Ryan Lomberg. Garrett Bartus backstopped his first win in a Thunder uniform, making 27 saves on 28 shots.

Mixing in a Goal to Reach the Summit

Mathew Maione has produced points at an impressive rate since coming to the Nailers in a trade from Brampton in early December. While the majority of those points have come via assists, Maione's rush from his own zone on Sunday afternoon resulted in his second goal in a Wheeling uniform, giving him an overall total of 34 points between the two clubs. That total puts him into a tie for the league lead in points among blueliners, joining Reading's Adam Comrie and Alaska's William Wrenn. Mathew's 28 assists rank second in the ECHL among defensemen, trailing only Wrenn, who has 30, while playing in three more games. Paul Cianfrini ranks second on the Nailers in points from the back end, as he notched his 15th helper and 17th point on Sunday. Ryan Constant is the top offensive weapon on the Adirondack blueline, as he has 24 points in 46 games.

A Time of Transition in Net

For more than the first half of the regular season, the Thunder had a dangerous three-headed monster in goal, as Ken Appleby, Kent Simpson, and Drew Fielding were the goaltenders of record for 43 games. 26 of those results were victories, as the three combined to go 26-13-4 with a remarkable number of eight shutouts. None of the three are currently members of Adirondack's roster, as Appleby was recalled by the AHL's Albany Devils, Simpson was recalled by the AHL's Stockton Heat, and Fielding now performs his work with the Brampton Beast. Last week, the Thunder signed Garrett Bartus, who immediately faced the tall task of playing three games in three days. During that stretch, he went 1-2-0, allowing ten goals on 90 shots. On Monday, Adirondack acquired some additional help in that department, trading for Peter Di Salvo, who could get the starting nod on Tuesday. Di Salvo is 2-1-0 in five appearances with the Colorado Eagles and Allen Americans. Franky Palazzese is expected to start for the Nailers, following a 37-save performance in Friday's 5-2 win against the Thunder.

This One's for All the Marbles

Tuesday night marks the third and final head-to-head meeting between the Nailers and Thunder this season, as well as the second battle at Glens Falls Civic Center. Road teams have gotten the upper hand in the first two clashes, as Adirondack picked up a 4-1 win at WesBanco Arena on October 30th, before Wheeling responded with a 5-2 triumph in Eastern New York on Friday. Thus far this season, the Nailers have had good success in the Empire State, going 2-0-1, with Tuesday's game at Adirondack and Wednesday's tilt in Elmira left on the slate. In addition to those two, Wheeling will play the Reading Royals three more times at Santander Arena to complete their slate against East Division foes. This will be the seventh of 17 season series to come to an end for the Nailers, who went 2-2-2 in series against the other six.

Wheeling Nailers (21-21-2-3, 47 Pts.) at Adirondack Thunder (28-15-2-2, 60 Pts.)

WHEELING NAILERS

(21-21-2-3, 47 PTS, 2nd North, 11th East)

136 GF, 150 GA

PP: 17.1% (31-for-181), 15th

PK: 83.1% (152-for-183), 18th

18-D-Mathew Maione (6 goals, 28 assists, 34 points in 45 games)

23-F-Riley Brace (14 goals, 18 assists, 32 points in 31 games)

11-F-Cody Wydo (12 goals, 9 assists, 21 points in 34 games)

4-D-Paul Cianfrini (2 goals, 15 assists, 17 points in 46 games)

27-D-Brett Stern (5 goals, 10 assists, 15 points in 47 games)

10-F-Chris Ciotti (6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points in 35 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (13-12-2 record, 2.97 GAA, .902 Sv% in 27 games)

ADIRONDACK THUNDER

(28-15-2-2, 60 PTS, 2nd East, T-4th East)

130 GF, 113 GA

PP: 15.3% (28-for-183), 20th

PK: 84.9% (135-for-159), 10th

11-F-Michael Kirkpatrick (19 goals, 20 assists, 39 points in 47 games)

22-D-Ryan Constant (6 goals, 18 assists, 24 points in 46 games)

9-F-Greg Wolfe (9 goals, 13 assists, 22 points in 35 games)

34-F-Jeff Silengo (10 goals, 9 assists, 19 points in 34 games)

10-F-Ryan Lomberg (8 goals, 9 assists, 17 points in 19 games)

12-F-Louick Marcotte (8 goals, 9 assists, 17 points in 32 games)

33-G-Peter Di Salvo (2-1-0 record, 2.19 GAA, .915 Sv% in 5 games)

Head to Head

Season Series: Nailers 1, Thunder 1

Season Series at Glens Falls Civic Center: Nailers 1, Thunder 0

All-Time Series: Nailers 1, Thunder 1

All-Time Series at Glens Falls Civic Center: Nailers 1, Thunder 0

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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