Sports stats

ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Game Preview: Reading Royals Vs Wheeling Nailers

February 12, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Reading (21-21-3-3) vs Wheeling (27-16-2-2)

On Sunday afternoon, the Wheeling Nailers will play the second of six consecutive games within the Atlantic Division, when they take their six-game point streak to Cambria County War Memorial Arena for a showdown with the Reading Royals.

Wheeling and Elmira continue to mirror each other at the top of the Atlantic Divisions, as both clubs picked up a divisional victory on Saturday, with the Nailers defeating Trenton, and the Jackals sneaking past Reading. With 47 games in the books and 25 remaining, both teams enter Sunday with records of 27-16-2-2, which is good for 58 points. Thanks to Kalamazoo's loss to Greenville, the teams with the tiebreaker (currently Wheeling) moved up to second place in the Eastern Conference, while the other club (Elmira) is tied for fifth place with South Carolina. The Royals have continued their .500 pace, as they enter Sunday with a mark of 21-21-3-3, which is good for 46 points, and the third position in the Atlantic Division. Reading is currently on the outside of the playoff picture, in tenth place, trailing Chicago by three points for the final spot.

With their win on Saturday night, the Nailers picked up at least one point for the sixth consecutive game (5-0-1), and are now 4-0-1 in the month of February. Saturday's victory came by a 4-2 score over the Trenton Titans, as Peter Merth, Matt Schepke, Denver Manderson, and Cody Chupp each lit the lamp. Merth's marker was his second of the year, with both coming against Nick Niedert. Schepke's was his first as a Nailer, and ninth of the season. Manderson and Chupp both picked up their 12th goals of the year, while Chupp joined Andrew Hotham with a pair of assists. Ryan Schnell also had a helper for the second straight game. In goal, Peter Delmas turned in his third magnificent performance in a row, stopping 35 of the 37 shots he faced for his 12th win of the year.

The Reading Royals enter Sunday's contest on the heels of a two-game split against the Elmira Jackals at Sovereign Center. Reading took Friday night's contest 3-2 in overtime, thanks to Yannick Tifu's power play goal with one second remaining in the extra session. On Saturday night, Elmira exacted revenge, finding the twine three straight times in the second period, erasing a 2-0 deficit for a 3-2 victory. Jussi Rynnas was the starting goaltender in both games for the Royals, as he continues to improve his numbers, after two ugly starts against Wheeling and Florida. Rynnas is currently 4-3, with a 4.00 GAA, and an .893 Sv%. On the offensive side of things, Tifu continues to be one of the best acquisitions of the season, as he leads Reading with 27 assists and 41 points. Olivier Labelle is the leader in goals (18) and penalty minutes (101), while Denny Urban leads the way with 27 points from the blueline.

Sunday afternoon's game will be a reunion of sorts for Matt Schepke and Mickael Bedard, as both players will suit up against their former clubs for the first time, since being swapped for each other last week. Schepke scored his first goal as a Nailer on Sunday, and now has nine goals and 22 points on the season. Bedard was originally credited with two assists on Friday, but both were changed, leaving him with the ten goals and 23 points that he had at the time of the deal.

This is the ninth of 13 meetings between Wheeling and Reading, as well as the fifth home game for the Nailers. Wheeling will be looking to put an end to a trend on Sunday, as the visiting team has won seven of the first eight battles between the two clubs. The Royals were the lone home team to pick up a win, and because of that, they currently leads the season series 5-3. Yannick Tifu and Dale Mitchell have been the top scorers in the eight games, as Tifu has ten points, while Mitchell has six goals. With Paul Crowder and his eight head-to-head points currently in the AHL, Denver Manderson and Chris Barton lead the Nailers with six points each. Patrick Killeen has all three of Wheeling's wins on his record, while Mark Owuya (on recall to Toronto of the AHL) has three of Reading's wins.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Wheeling Nailers

27-16-2-2, 58 points, T-1st Atlantic Division, T-2nd Eastern Conference

154 GF, 129 GA

PP: 34-for-189 (18.0%), 10th

PK: 155-for-187 (82.9%), 8th

Active Leaders

Goals: Barton (22)

Assists: Torquato (24)

Points: Barton (42)

Penalty Minutes: Ross (95)

+/-: Merth (+20)

Wins: Killeen (15)

GAA: Delmas (2.48)

Sv%: Delmas (.911)

Reading Royals

21-21-3-3, 48 points, 3rd Atlantic Division, 10th Eastern Conference

148 GF, 167 GA

PP: 35-for-209 (16.7%), 11th

PK: 155-for-192 (80.7%), 14th

Active Leaders

Goals: Labelle (18)

Assists: Tifu (27)

Points: Tifu (41)

Penalty Minutes: Labelle (101)

+/-: Bedard, Mitchell (+6)

Wins: Rynnas (4)

GAA: St. Laurent (3.83)

Sv%: Rynnas (.893)

Sunday's game between the Nailers and Royals at Cambria County War Memorial Arena begins at 4:05. 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.

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 12, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Wheeling Nailers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central