ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Wings Game Day Snap Shot

January 30, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (19-20-0-0, 38 PTS) at Kalamazoo Wings (18-15-1-2, 39 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(19-20-0-0, 38 PTS, 5th North, 11th East)

117 GF, 126 GA

PP: 19.5% (29-for-149), 8th

PK: 84.1% (138-for-164), 10th

23-F-Riley Brace (10 goals, 27 assists, 37 points in 28 games)

16-F-Derek Army (17 goals, 17 assists, 34 points in 39 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (10 goals, 21 assists, 31 points in 27 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (11 goals, 14 assists, 25 points in 36 games)

3-D-Morgan Ellis (10 goals, 11 assists, 21 points in 31 games)

14-D-Tristin Llewellyn (4 goals, 11 assists, 15 points in 33 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (8 goals, 6 assists, 14 points in 34 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (9-13-0 record, 3.55 GAA, .887 Sv% in 23 games)

KALAMAZOO WINGS

(18-15-1-2, 39 PTS, 4th North, 10th East)

107 GF, 108 GA

PP: 15.3% (20-for-131), 19th

PK: 86.6% (123-for-142), 3rd

18-F-Curtis Valk (11 goals, 19 assists, 30 points in 31 games)

15-F-Eric Kattelus (5 goals, 20 assists, 25 points in 25 games)

7-F-Dane Fox (11 goals, 20 assists, 21 points in 34 games)

4-D-Sacha Guimond (3 goals, 18 assists, 21 points in 36 games)

23-F-Ludwig Blomstrand (10 goals, 10 assists, 20 points in 25 games)

84-F-Matt Caria (12 goals, 7 assists, 19 points in 29 games)

21-F-Lane Scheidl (8 goals, 7 assists, 15 points in 36 games)

49-G-Joel Martin (13-8-2 record, 2.66 GAA, .911 Sv% in 25 games)

Head-to-Head

2013-14 Season Series: Wings 2, Nailers 1

2013-14 Season Series at Wings Stadium: Wings 1, Nailers 0

All-Time Series: Wings 14, Nailers 13

All-Time Series at Wings Stadium: Nailers 6, Wings 6

Two More Tough Ones Against the North

The Wheeling Nailers will finish up a stretch of five straight games against North Division opponents this weekend, when they lock horns with the Kalamazoo Wings twice at Wings Stadium. Last weekend, Wheeling battled the top two games in the division, taking the opening contest 5-4 against the Fort Wayne Komets, before falling 4-1 to Fort Wayne and 5-2 to the Toledo Walleye, dropping to one game under .500 at 19-20-0. First periods ended up being crucial during those three contests, as the Nailers had a 3-1 lead in their victory on Friday night, while the Komets built a 2-0 lead and the Walleye blasted out to a 3-0 advantage in their two wins. Riley Brace led the way with five points in the three games, including a three-point outing on Friday, while Derek Army, Morgan Ellis, and Shawn Skelly all lit the lamp twice. Franky Palazzese is in line to make his fifth consecutive start on Friday.

Wings Taking Flight

The Kalamazoo Wings experienced a rough patch of the season in November, going nine games in a row without a victory. However, the last nine games have written a nearly identical script in the opposite direction, as Kalamazoo has taken over fourth place in the North Division with an 8-0-1 record since the calendar turned to 2015. After sweeping a home-and-home series against Fort Wayne, the Wings suffered their lone setback on Friday, as Toledo edged out a 2-1 shootout win. However, Kalamazoo responded well, taking down Cincinnati 5-2 on Saturday, before erasing a 3-0 deficit in a 4-3 overtime triumph against Allen on Sunday. Dane Fox and Matt Caria both have six goals during the nine-game point streak, while Joel Martin and Scott Munroe have both won four games between the pipes.

One is In, One is Out

This weekend's two-game series could go a long way in determining who could qualify for the Kelly Cup Playoffs, and who might see their season end in the middle of April. Kalamazoo currently owns a one-point lead over Wheeling for the fourth and final playoff spot, and the Wings have played in the fewest games in the ECHL, with Friday night serving as their 37th, compared to the 40th tilt of the campaign for the Nailers. Third place Cincinnati enters the weekend with 42 points (3 points ahead of KAL, 4 points ahead of WHL), but will also be taking the ice for the 40th time on Friday. The Indy Fuel are tied for the most games played in the North Division (42), but an 8-0-1 record in the last nine games has brought Indy to within three points of the Nailers and four of the Wings.

The Rookie Challenges the Veteran

Unless there are any transactions that take place during the weekend, the Nailers and Wings have a good idea of who they will see manning the respective creases in the two-game series. Wheeling is expected to turn to rookie Franky Palazzese for the fifth game in a row, following a stretch which saw Eric Hartzell start eight of nine contests. At the start of the season, Palazzese appeared in his longest stretch of games as a professional, as he compiled a 5-4-0 record in nine consecutive starts. On the opposite end of the ice, Kalamazoo is expected to name 32-year old Joel Martin as its starter. In 2012-13, Martin saw action between the pipes in 63 of the Wings' 72 games, including a string of 39 straight starts. This season, the 11th year pro in North America has gone 13-8-2 in 25 games.

We Missed You, Michigan

Friday night marks the first of five head-to-head meetings between the Nailers and Wings this season, as well as the first of four battles between the two clubs at Wings Stadium. Despite colliding during the playoffs in back-to-back years (2010, 2011), the rivalry between Wheeling and Kalamazoo has taken a bit of a back seat, as the two sides have played just nine regular season games against each other in the last three seasons. In 2013-14, the Wings got the upper hand in two of three tilts, picking up a shootout win on November 6th, before grabbing a regulation win on February 1st. The Nailers' lone win came on January 31st, also in a shootout, as four of the most recent six contests have required extra time to determine a winner. Although Kalamazoo has won both playoff series, the historical series in regular season play is only a one-game separation in favor of the Wings.

The Nailers will play a three-game homestand on February 6th, 7th, and 8th.

Friday the 6th is a 7:35 game against Toledo, featuring Flat Screen Friday, Frosty Friday, and a player poster giveaway.

Saturday the 7th is Duck Dynasty Night at 8:05 against Cincinnati, with an appearance by Jep Robertson from A&E's highest rated television show. That evening will feature a beard contest and a duck call contest, as well as Nailers camouflage t-shirts available for purchase at the team store.

Sunday the 8th is a 4:05 face-off against Elmira, and after the game, fans can join the Nailers for a post game skate. Kids tickets for that contest will be $5, and the Oglebay Good Zoo will have an exhibit in the concourse.

Wheeling Nailers 2014-15 season tickets, flex tickets, group tickets and single-game tickets 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 January 30, 2015


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