Nailers Game Preview: Chicago Vs. Wheeling
December 18, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Nailers Game Preview: Chicago vs. Wheeling
Chicago Express (14-9-2-1 31Pts) vs Wheeling Nailers (14-9-0-0 28 Pts)
On Sunday afternoon, the Wheeling Nailers return to WesBanco Arena, where they will welcome a brand new opponent to the Ohio Valley for the first time ever. The Chicago Express will be the road team on Sunday, for the first of three meetings this season against Wheeling.
With the Nailers' setback on Saturday night in Reading, along with a victory by Elmira, the Jackals have snuck past Wheeling, and into the top spot in the Atlantic Division. However, the Nailers could regain a tie for first place on Sunday, as Elmira has the day off. Wheeling enters the match with a 14-9-0-0 record, which is good for 28 points, while the Jackals are 15-11-0-0, which is good for 30 points. On the other side of the ice, the Chicago Express are currently in second place in the North Division, entering this contest with a 14-9-2-1 record, which is good for 31 points. Chicago trails the Kalamazoo Wings by three points for first place in that division, with both clubs having played in 26 games.
WesBanco Arena might be exactly what the doctor ordered for the Nailers, who picked up a thrilling 2-1 win over the Trenton Titans last Saturday in their most recent game in the Mountain State. Thus far, this weekend has been less than kind to Wheeling, who suffered back-to-back 6-3 defeats at the hands of the Reading Royals on Friday and Saturday. That record is despite the performance of captain Paul Crowder, who had three goals and one assist in the two games, including two tallies on the power play that has moved up to 16th in the league. Denver Manderson and Cody Chupp also had at least one point in each contest, while Paul Thompson made his ECHL debut with one goal and one assist on Saturday. Patrick Killeen will be looking to turn things around in goal, as he suffered the loss in both battles with the Royals.
The Chicago Express will be playing their fourth game in five days on Sunday afternoon, following a 4-3 loss against Toledo on Wednesday, a 5-3 win against Elmira on Friday, and a 3-0 loss in Cincinnati on Saturday. Saturday's contest marked the first time in seven games that Rob Nolan was the goaltender of record, as Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Allen York (who played four games in the NHL this season) got the decision in five straight games, and Paul Dainton also made one start. Despite that stat, Nolan has appeared in 13 games for the Express, going 6-6-1, with a 2.80 GAA, and a .904 Sv%. On the offensive side of things, Chicago is led by Chad Painchaud, who was acquired in a trade with the Reading Royals. In 26 ECHL games this season, Painchaud has seven goals and 22 points, including five goals and seven points in seven games with the Express. Chaz Johnson leads Chicago in goals with ten, Tyler Donati leads in assists with 17, and Darcy Campbell's 16 points are the most amongst Express defensemen.
In the department of familiar faces, Dan Henningson should get a pleasant response on Sunday, as he played each of the last two seasons for the Nailers, serving as the club's captain at the end of last year. In 101 career games with Wheeling, Henningson had eight goals, 21 assists, and 29 points from the blueline. Another recognizable name on Chicago's roster is Devin DiDiomete, who played two games with the Nailers in October. In those two games, the physical forward had one goal, one assist, and four penalty minutes.
To order tickets to today's game call the Nailers office at 304-234-GOAL (4625) or online at shop.wheelingnailers.com. You can now order tickets on your smartphone by visiting m.wheelingnailers.com.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Wheeling Nailers
14-9-0-0, 28 points, 2nd Atlantic Division, T-7th Eastern Conference
80 GF, 67 GA
PP: 16-for-100 (16.0%), 16th
PK: 78-for-98 (79.6%), 15th
Active Leaders
Goals: Crowder (8)
Assists: Hansen (13)
Points: Crowder (18)
Penalty Minutes: Torquato (52)
+/-: Chupp (+10)
Wins: Killeen (8)
GAA: Delmas (2.40)
Sv%: Delmas (.902)
Chicago Express
14-9-2-1, 31 points, 2nd North Division, 5th Eastern Conference
80 GF, 81 GA
PP: 19-for-114 (16.7%), 14th
PK: 94-for-124 (75.8%), 20th
Active Leaders
Goals: Johnson (10)
Assists: Donati (17)
Points: Painchaud (22)
Penalty Minutes: Robins (117)
+/-: Lutz, Marvin (+12)
Wins: Nolan (6)
GAA: Nolan (2.80)
Sv%: Nolan (.904)
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