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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Walleye Game Day Snap Shot

April 18, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Leads Best-of-Seven North Division Semi-Final Series, 1-0

WHEELING NAILERS

(1-0)

3 GF, 2 GA

PP: 0.0% (0-for-4), T-11th

PK: 60.0% (3-for-5), 15th

12-F-David Gilbert (2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points in 1 game)

21-F-Sahir Gill (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points in 1 game)

16-F-Derek Army (1 assist, 1 point in 1 game)

9-D-David Makowski (1 assist, 1 point in 1 game)

18-D-Mike Slowikowski (1 assist, 1 point in 1 game)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (1-0 record, 2.00 GAA, .929 Sv% in 1 game)

(37-33-1-1, 76 PTS, 4th North)

210 GF, 213 GA

PP: 16.2% (44-for-272), 18th

PK: 83.4% (247-for-296), 12th

23-F-Riley Brace (18 goals, 49 assists, 67 points in 61 games)

16-F-Derek Army (29 goals, 37 assists, 66 points in 72 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (19 goals, 40 assists, 59 points in 57 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (19 goals, 21 assists, 40 points in 64 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (18 goals, 11 assists, 29 points in 64 games)

21-F-Sahir Gill (9 goals, 20 assists, 29 points in 26 games)

9-D-David Makowski (8 goals, 11 assists, 19 points in 44 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (20-19-1 record, 2.88 GAA, .911 Sv% in 41 games)

TOLEDO WALLEYE

(0-1)

2 GF, 3 GA

PP: 40.0% (2-for-5), 2nd

PK: 100.0% (4-for-4), T-1st

10-F-Shane Berschbach (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points in 1 game)

9-F-Troy Schwab (2 assists, 2 points in 1 game)

32-D-Cody Lampl (1 goal, 1 point in 1 game)

24-D-Shane Sims (1 assist, 1 point in 1 game)

1-G-Jeff Lerg (0-1 record, 3.09 GAA, .909 Sv% in 1 game)

(50-15-5-2, 107 PTS, 1st North)

281 GF, 182 GA

PP: 24.7% (64-for-259), 1st

PK: 87.1% (202-for-232), 2nd

7-F-Tyler Barnes (34 goals, 40 assists, 74 points in 71 games)

10-F-Shane Berschbach (15 goals, 48 assists, 63 points in 65 games)

9-F-Troy Schwab (19 goals, 41 assists, 60 points in 70 games)

28-F-Kyle Bonis (36 goals, 23 assists, 59 points in 65 games)

16-F-Justin Mercier (22 goals, 21 assists, 43 points in 46 games)

24-D-Shane Sims (7 goals, 24 assists, 31 points in 65 games)

32-D-Cody Lampl (8 goals, 22 assists, 30 points in 62 games)

1-G-Jeff Lerg (32-9-3 record, 2.37 GAA, .920 Sv% in 45 games)

Head-to-Head

Playoff Series: Nailers 1, Walleye 0

Playoff Series at Huntington Center: Nailers 1, Walleye 0

Season Series: Walleye 6, Nailers 1

Season Series at Huntington Center: Walleye 3, Nailers 0

All-Time Series (Regular Season + Playoff): Nailers 26, Walleye 25

All-Time Series at Huntington Center (Regular Season + Playoff): Walleye 14, Nailers 8

Home Ice Advantage Takes a Turn

The Wheeling Nailers made the first mark in their best-of-seven North Division Semi-Final Series against the Toledo Walleye on Thursday night, stunning the Brabham Cup Champions with a 3-2 victory at Huntington Center. Wheeling was forced to come from behind on two different occasions, as David Gilbert scored 21 seconds after Cody Lampl's opening goal in the first period, and Sahir Gill responded in the final minute of the middle frame, after Shane Berschbach had put the home team ahead. The Nailers took their only lead of the game with 8:50 remaining in regulation, when Gilbert slipped in a backhand goal on a breakaway for his second tally of the evening. The former Walleye forward earned the first star of the contest, with a three-point night, while Franky Palazzese made the score hold up with a 26-save performance in goal. Jeff Lerg stopped 30 of 33 shots for Toledo.

History Likes Game One

Thursday night's triumph marked the 16th time in 24 all-time series that Wheeling took a 1-0 lead on its opponent in the 23-year history of the club. The Nailers have gone onto win ten of the previous 15 series, while the opposition came out on top in seven of the eight series which saw the first game go the wrong way for Wheeling. This is also the tenth time that the Nailers have won a series opener on enemy ice, which occurred for the second straight postseason, after Wheeling picked up a 3-0 victory in South Carolina on April 18, 2014. The Nailers have a 7-2 record all-time in postseason series when jumping out to a 1-0 lead on the road. Toledo has now started all three of its playoff series as the Walleye at home, previously defeating Charlotte and losing to Cincinnati, before going on to fall short in both sets.

They're on Our Side Now

It is almost fitting that the Nailers and Walleye meet up in the 2015 postseason, as Wheeling's roster has quite a few players who used to play their home games in Northwest Ohio. One of those players was Thursday night's hero, as David Gilbert made his professional playoff debut, picking up two goals and three points against the team he wore the uniform of 73 times. 2014-15 Walleye Mike Slowikowski also chipped into the scoring for Wheeling, as he assisted on Gilbert's tying goal in the first period. Zack Torquato, Paul Cianfrini, and Bobby Shea (on the playoff eligible list) all spent parts of their careers in Toledo, but now find themselves on the opposite side of the rivalry. Joe Stejskal is the only former Nailer in the other dressing room, as the Walleye are his fourth ECHL team.

Stay Within the Rules

One area of success in Thursday night's game for Toledo was its power play, which ranked first in the ECHL during the regular season. Cody Lampl's one-timer from the middle of the blueline in the first period came on a man advantage, as well as Shane Berschbach's right circle wrist shot in the second. The Walleye posted a 2-for-5 mark with a Wheeling player in the sin bin during the series opener - a number which the Nailers would like to see shrink as the set progresses. On the other side of the sheet, Wheeling went 0-for-4, which puts the Nailers in a 1-for-27 slump on the power play in April. During its last five victories, Wheeling has outscored the opposition 17-3 when playing at even strength.

First of the Year Couldn't Have Come at a Better Time

Huntington Center was an unfriendly venue during the 2014-15 regular season for the Nailers, who were defeated in all three of their visits, while being outscored, 15-4. However, the slate was wiped clean for Thursday night, and Wheeling earned its first win in Toledo since March 19, 2014. Since the Walleye were introduced to the ECHL at the start of 2009, the Nailers have made 22 visits to their fabulous facility, going 7-13-1 in regular season play, and what is now a 1-0 mark in the playoffs. This is the fifth time that Wheeling and Toledo have met up in postseason play, with the Storm having defeated the Nailers/Thunderbirds in three of the previous four series. Both sides have done well at home, with Wheeling winning five of eight games in West Virginia, and Toledo having won eight of eleven games in Ohio.

The Nailers will play a maximum of three home games during their opening round playoff series against Toledo. Fans can get a free kids ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket at the Nailers office for game three on April 22nd . McDonald's Friends & Family Tickets will be available for games four and five (if necessary) on April 24th and 25th, giving fans the opportunity to receive four tickets, four hats, and four McDonald's Value Meal coupons for $39.99. April 24th will also be a Frosty Friday .

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.

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ECHL Stories from April 18, 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.

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