ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Game Preview: Greenville Vs Wheeling

Published on January 8, 2012 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Greenville Road Warriors (19-12-1-1 ) vs. Wheeling Nailers (17-12-1-1 )

On Sunday afternoon, the Wheeling Nailers will complete their third season series of 2011-12, when they play their lone home contest against the Greenville Road Warriors.

The Nailers and Road Warriors are both part of the Eastern Conference playoff race, which at this point in the season, could not be much closer. Wheeling's 17-12-1-1 record gives them 36 points, which is good for second place in the Atlantic Division, and seventh place in the Eastern Conference, as they lead South Carolina and Reading by two points each, while trailing Chicago by one point. Greenville's 19-12-1-1 record puts them with 40 points, which is good for second place in the South Division, and fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Road Warriors trail division leading Gwinnett by three points, while being one point ahead of Florida. The Nailers trail Elmira by eight points in the Atlantic Division, as the Jackals have won eight consecutive games.

Thus far this weekend, the Nailers have posted a 1-1 record, picking up a 5-2 victory over Cincinnati on Friday, before falling 3-1 to South Carolina on Saturday. In the game against the Cyclones, Wheeling was in control virtually from start to finish, as they blazed out to a 2-0 advantage before the game was seven minutes old. Chris Barton, Paul Crowder, and Scooter Vaughan all had notable offensive performances, while Peter Delmas locked things down in the crease with 29 saves. On Saturday, defense was the story, as Mickael Bedard's second period marker was the lone tally on the board through 40 minutes of play. Unfortunately for the Nailers, that changed in the third, as the Stingrays scored three unanswered goals, turning the game into a win for them. Wheeling's penalty kill remains one of the team's strongest assets, as they have allowed just one goal in the last eight tilts.

Much like their friends from Charleston, the Greenville Road Warriors have been strangers to the Palmetto State, as this will be their sixth straight game away from BI-LO Center. Thus far, the road trip has produced a 3-2 record, as Greenville swept a pair of games in Chicago, dropped a pair of games in Cincinnati and Kalamazoo, and then snagged a victory in Toledo, leading them into their road trip finale with the Nailers. Unlike the Stingrays, the Road Warriors games tend to feature scoring, as they have edged the opposition 106-104 in goals thus far this season. Brendan Connolly leads that list for Greenville, netting 20 goals, while dishing out 22 assists for 42 points. Justin Bowers has the club lead in helpers, as he has 29 assists, while currently being ranked second on the club with 36 points. Wes Cunningham has lit the lamp just once this season, but his 16 assists give him 17 total points, which is the most on the Road Warriors' blueline. Nic Riopel has the best goaltending numbers on the squad thus far this season, but he is currently on recall to the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Rookie Jason Missiaen is 6-5-1, with a 2.98 GAA, and a .913 Sv% in 13 games, while Bryan Hince has recently joined the roster, and has won both of his appearances.

Three members of the Greenville Road Warriors have suited up with the Nailers in their careers, with TJ Reynolds spending the most time in the Ohio Valley. Reynolds played in parts of three seasons with Wheeling, dressing in 151 games, scoring seven goals, 25 assists, and 32 points, while racking up 669 penalty minutes. Kale Kerbashian recorded two goals and an assist in four games with the Nailers during the 2009-10 campaign, while Sean Berkstresser picked up one goal and one assist in eight games during the 2007-08 season. Chris Clark is the lone Nailer to have played for the Road Warriors, while Kyle Bushee picked up four goals and 20 assists in 76 games for the Johnstown Chiefs, who later relocated to Greenville.

This is the second and final meeting of the season between Wheeling and Greenville, who opened up the season on October 14th, when the Nailers picked up a convincing 6-1 victory at BI-LO Center. After the Road Warriors opened the scoring, Wheeling scored the next six goals, as Paul Crowder, Christiaan Minella, Matt Lombardi, Mickael Bedard (2), and Nick Plastino all lit the lamp. Patrick Killeen defeated current Idaho Steelhead Jerry Kuhn in goal.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Wheeling Nailers

17-12-1-1, 36 points, 2nd Atlantic Division, 7th Eastern Conference

102 GF, 88 GA

PP: 23-for-132 (17.4%), 12th

PK: 103-for-124 (83.1%), 6th

Active Leaders

Goals: Barton (17)

Assists: Torquato (18)

Points: Barton (31)

Penalty Minutes: Ross (70)

+/-: Bushee (+11)

Wins: Delmas (7)

GAA: Delmas (2.42)

Sv%: Delmas (.904)

Greenville Road Warriors

19-12-1-1, 40 points, 2nd South Division, 4th Eastern Conference

106 GF, 104 GA

PP: 30-for-140 (21.4%), 4th

PK: 138-for-167 (82.6%), 9th

Active Leaders

Goals: Connolly (20)

Assists: Bowers (29)

Points: Connolly (42)

Penalty Minutes: Reynolds (107)

+/-: Connolly (+11)

Wins: Missiaen (6)

GAA: Missiaen (2.98)

Sv%: Missiaen (.913)

Sunday's game between the Nailers and Road Warriors at WesBanco Arena begins at 2:00. For ticket information or to purchase tickets call 304-234-GOAL (4625) or online at shop.wheelingnailers.com. You can now purchase Nailers game tickets on your smartphone by visiting m.wheelingnailers.com

NEXT HOME GAME: Sun. Jan., 8th - 2:00PM

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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