Nailers Game Preview - Reading Vs. Wheeling
December 9, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
On Friday night, the Wheeling Nailers will continue their stretch of divisional games, when they welcome the Reading Royals to WesBanco Arena for the first time this season.
The Nailers have alternated wins and losses in each of their last seven games, and will be looking for their first winning streak since earning three straight wins from November 12th-18th. Wheeling is currently in second place in the Atlantic Division, trailing the Elmira Jackals, who have won six consecutive games to take a two-point lead. The Nailers have played in four fewer games than the Jackals, who are on the road for two games in Florida this weekend. On the other side of the ice, the Royals have spiraled down to fourth place in the Atlantic Division, going winless in their last nine games. Reading currently trails Trenton by two points for third place, with both teams having played in the same amount of games.
Wheeling has been in action twice since seeing the Royals last, splitting a pair of games against the Trenton Titans. On Saturday, the Titans picked up a 5-3 win at WesBanco Arena, before the Nailers responded with a 3-1 victory on Wednesday at Sun National Bank Center. Zack Torquato, Mickael Bedard, and Cody Chupp all had multiple point nights in Trenton, helping goaltender Patrick Killeen, who made 35 saves for his seventh win of the season. Killeen has earned the win in three of his last four starts, stopping 98 of 106 shots in the process.
Reading has taken the ice twice since seeing the Nailers last, falling 3-1 in regulation against Elmira on Saturday, before coming up on the short end of a 3-2 overtime decision against Trenton on Thursday. The Royals have turned to three different goaltenders in their last three contests, as Joe Palmer got the start against the Nailers, Karel St. Laurent got the nod against the Jackals, and Mark Owuya returned from the Toronto Marlies of the AHL to face the Titans. Reading will be without two players in Friday night's game, as Ryan Cruthers was suspended by the league for six games from the last time these two clubs met, and Marvin Degon was suspended by the team, following a match penalty against Elmira.
The Nailers and Royals have met once so far this season, with the Nailers earning a 5-1 victory at Sovereign Center last Friday. Wheeling opened up a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Chris Barton and Patrick Johnson, then began to put the Royals away early in the second, when Barton and Adam Ross made it 4-0 in favor of the visitors. Christiaan Minella added another insurance goal late in the second period for the Nailers, before Dale Mitchell put Reading on the board early in the third. Patrick Killeen defeated Joe Palmer in goal.
On Saturday night the Nailers will host the Trenton Titans at WesBanco Arena. The first 2,000 fans will receive a free Nailers T-Shirt courtesy of WesBanco Bank, The McLure Hotel, Panhandle Cleaning, and Generations Pub. For ticket information or to order tickets call 304-234-GOAL or online at shop.wheelingnailers.com.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Wheeling Nailers
12-6-0-0, 24 points, 2nd Atlantic Division, T-6th Eastern Conference
66 GF, 48 GA
PP: 12-for-76 (15.8%), 16th
PK: 59-for-76 (77.6%), 18th
Active Leaders
Goals: Barton (15)
Assists: Hansen (11)
Points: Barton (24)
Penalty Minutes: Torquato (48)
+/-: Chupp (+11)
Wins: Killeen (7)
GAA: Delmas (2.32)
Sv%: Delmas (.900)
Reading Royals
7-11-3-2, 19 points, 4th Atlantic Division, 10th Eastern Conference
61 GF, 82 GA
PP: 20-for-100 (20.0%), 8th
PK: 80-for-99 (80.8%), 11th
Active Leaders
Goals: Labelle (11)
Assists: Tifu (10)
Points: Labelle (19)
Penalty Minutes: Labelle (53)
+/-: Tifu (+3)
Wins: Palmer (4)
GAA: Owuya (2.92)
Sv%: Owuya (.917)
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