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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers at Wings Game Day Snap Shot

April 4, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Wheeling Nailers (33-32-1-1, 68 PTS) at Kalamazoo Wings (33-29-2-3, 71 PTS)

WHEELING NAILERS

(33-32-1-1, 68 PTS, 5th North, 11th East)

194 GF, 201 GA

PP: 17.1% (44-for-258), 14th

PK: 84.1% (233-for-277), 7th

23-F-Riley Brace (18 goals, 43 assists, 61 points in 56 games)

16-F-Derek Army (26 goals, 34 assists, 60 points in 67 games)

15-F-Zack Torquato (18 goals, 39 assists, 57 points in 54 games)

12-F-David Gilbert (16 goals, 21 assists, 37 points in 60 games)

20-F-Jarrett Burton (12 goals, 16 assists, 28 points in 51 games)

98-F-Chaz Johnson (16 goals, 10 assists, 26 points in 59 games)

9-D-David Makowski (7 goals, 8 assists, 15 points in 39 games)

29-G-Franky Palazzese (17-18-1 record, 2.95 GAA, .908 Sv% in 37 games)

KALAMAZOO WINGS

(33-29-2-3, 71 PTS, 3rd North, 8th East)

206 GF, 218 GA

PP: 16.2% (39-for-241), 18th

PK: 83.8% (222-for-265), 9th

84-F-Matt Caria (24 goals, 28 assists, 52 points in 60 games)

16-F-Gergo Nagy (15 goals, 32 assists, 47 points in 51 games)

23-F-Ludwig Blomstrand (31 goals, 12 assists, 43 points in 51 games)

7-F-Dane Fox (25 goals, 14 assists, 39 points in 65 games)

9-F-Michael Neal (18 goals, 18 assists, 36 points in 55 games)

15-F-Eric Kattelus (6 goals, 30 assists, 36 points in 35 games)

8-D-Sam Ftorek (3 goals, 30 assists, 33 points in 66 games)

49-G-Joel Martin (28-19-4 record, 2.91 GAA, .909 Sv% in 54 games)

Head-to-Head

Season Series: Nailers 3, Wings 1

Season Series at Wings Stadium: Nailers 2, Wings 1

All-Time Series: Nailers 16, Wings 15

All-Time Series at Wings Stadium: Nailers 8, Wings 7

One Last Painful Look Back

The Wheeling Nailers had a game they would absolutely love to forget on Friday night, as the Evansville IceMen put an end to their ten-game losing streak with a 6-1 victory at WesBanco Arena, dropping Wheeling to fifth place in the North Division Standings. The Nailers had great chances early, especially on the power play, but two goals in a span of 62 seconds gave the IceMen a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period. Things turned from bad to worse at the start of the middle frame, as two more tallies made the score 4-0, ending Eric Hartzell's night in net. Zack Torquato attempted to start the comeback with a power play goal, but Evansville answered 27 seconds later, and never looked back, as Branden Komm made 35 saves. Brandon Whitney stopped 14 of 16 shots in relief, after Hartzell made 20 saves on 24 shots.

Six Was a Common Number

The Kalamazoo Wings didn't fare much better on Friday night, as they also watched an opponent light the lamp six times. The Toledo Walleye were the ones who did the damage at Wings Stadium, scoring twice in the first stanza, before opening up a 5-0 advantage by the 14:59 mark of the middle period, chasing starting goaltender Joel Martin after the fourth goal. Kyle Bonis netted a hat trick for the Walleye, raising his goal total to 34, helping rookie goaltender Jordan Ruby to a win in his first professional start. Kalamazoo scored three of the night's final four goals, courtesy of Ludwig Blomstrand, Gergo Nagy, and Dane Fox, making the final mark 6-3.

A Chance to Bunch Up the Pack

While the Nailers currently find themselves one-point out of the playoffs, the race toward the postseason could severely tighten itself, depending on the results of Saturday night's games. Wheeling owns one game in hand against fourth place Cincinnati, with that tilt taking place on April 12th in Brampton. However, those aren't the only two clubs fighting it out, as back-to-back losses by the Kalamazoo Wings have left them only two points ahead of the Cyclones and three better than the Nailers, entering Saturday night's showdown at Wings Stadium. The Indy Fuel are starting to fall into position where they are battling for their lives, as they sit five points back of Cincinnati with five games remaining, including a home clash with Fort Wayne on Saturday. The Cyclones will play host to Evansville on Saturday night, whom they have defeated in nine of ten meetings thus far.

Two Valuable Additions from Above

With time ticking down on the regular season, the Wings added to big pieces to their lineup, since the last time the Nailers saw them on March 13th. Up front, Patrick Kennedy was acquired, after spending the first part of the year with the Evansville IceMen and AHL's Utica Comets. The fourth year pro hasn't wasted much time in making his impact felt on the offensive end, picking up two goals and five points in eight games wearing a Kalamazoo uniform, despite a -3 rating. On the blueline, Pittsburgh native Denny Urban is in the ECHL for the first time since 2012-13, after playing the first 31 games of the campaign with the AHL's Springfield Falcons. Since joining the Wings, Urban has two assists in four games. Since last Friday, the Nailers have had three players join the squad - Cody Wydo, Tommy Fallen, and Adam Krause. Fallen and Krause both made their pro debuts against Evansville.

One More for Old Times' Sake

Saturday night marks the fifth and final head-to-head meeting between the Nailers and Wings this season, as well as the fourth battle between the two clubs at Wings Stadium. Wheeling has already secured the season series win for the second time in three years, having been victorious in three of the first four clashes, including two of three on the road. The most recent match-up was a historical one for the Nailers, as Clark Donatelli earned his 125th career win as the team's head coach in a 4-1 triumph at WesBanco Arena. Wheeling scored three goals in the third period, breaking a 1-1 tie that evening. Riley Brace and Zack Torquato have each accumulated five points in the previous four games to lead the way for the Nailers, while Matt Caria and Eric Kattelus have each produced four points for the Wings.

The Nailers have one home game remaining in the 2014-15 regular season, with a 7:35 battle against the Elmira Jackals on April 10th . That night will be a Flat Screen Friday, Frosty Friday, and Player Poster Giveaway, in addition to Fan Appreciation Night.

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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