ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Game Preview: Reading Vs. Wheeling

December 31, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


Reading Royals (12-13-3-3) vs. Wheeling Nailers (16-10-1-1)

On Saturday night, the Wheeling Nailers will wrap up the 2011 calendar season, when they return home to WesBanco Arena for a divisional showdown against the Reading Royals.

The Nailers are coming off of a three-game road trip that saw them go 1-1-1, accumulating three out of six possible points. In doing so, Wheeling's record currently stands at 16-10-1-1, which is good for 34 points, as well as second place in the Atlantic Division. In the Eastern Conference Standings, the Nailers are tied for fifth place, along with Greenville and Chicago. After winning four straight games, the Royals have dropped two in a row, and are currently in third place in the Atlantic Division, holding a 12-13-3-3 record, which is good for 30 points. When it comes to the conference standings, Reading is on the outside looking in, as they trail South Carolina by two points for the final playoff spot.

This will be Wheeling's fourth game of the week, as well as their fifth straight game against an Atlantic Division opponent. The Nailers' week began with a 2-1 shootout loss on Monday in Elmira, before an exciting 5-4 victory on the road in Trenton on Wednesday. Unfortunately, Wheeling's four-game point streak game to an end on Friday, as the Jackals picked up a 3-2 win, concluding the trip. In Friday night's contest, Kyle Bushee recorded a pair of assists on goals by Zack Torquato and Paul Crowder, while Chris Barton and Cody Chupp also chipped in with helpers. Torquato's tally gives him points in 11 of 13 games this month, while Crowder has now lit the lamp three times on the man advantage this season. The Nailers' power play moved up to seventh in the league, as they scored once again, while another perfect penalty killing effort raised that unit to seventh in the league. Patrick Killeen made 22 saves between the pipes, and will be making his 12th appearance in 14 December games on Saturday.

The Reading Royals have also spent their week playing within the Atlantic Division, going 0-1-1 since the holidays. On Wednesday night, the Royals ran into the shootout specialist Elmira Jackals, whose shooters went 3-for-3, and whose netminder also went 3-for-3 in a 4-3 victory at Sovereign Center. Then, on Friday night, Reading welcomed the Trenton Titans to town for a back-and-forth affair. Trenton jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, only to see the Royals tie the game early in the third. With 6:01 left in regulation, the Titans' Denny Kearney broked the deadlock, giving them the 4-3 victory. Captain Ryan Cruthers enjoyed a two-goal, three-point performance on Friday, while Joe Palmer made 28 saves in the defeat.

This is the sixth of 13 meetings this season between the Nailers and Royals, with all six having taken place in the month of December thus far. The first four battles were split with two wins going each way, as the road team started out 4-0. The most recent matchup between the two clubs saw that streak come to an end, as Reading took a 3-2 lead in the season series with a 6-3 win at Sovereign Center on December 17th. Dale Mitchell's six goals and eight points lead the way in the five games thus far, although he is currently on recall to the AHL's Toronto Marlies. Yannick Tifu has four goals and seven points for the Royals, while Paul Crowder has three goals and six points for the Nailers. In goal, Patrick Killeen has appeared in all five games for Wheeling, while Mark Owuya has played three times, and Joe Palmer has played twice for Reading.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Wheeling Nailers

16-10-1-1, 34 points, 2nd Atlantic Division, T-5th Eastern Conference

94 GF, 80 GA

PP: 23-for-118 (19.5%), 7th

PK: 94-for-114 (82.5%), 7th

Active Leaders

Goals: Barton (15)

Assists: Torquato (16)

Points: Barton (27)

Penalty Minutes: Ross (70)

+/-: Bushee, Torquato (+7)

Wins: Killeen (10)

GAA: Delmas (2.40)

Sv%: Delmas (.902)

Reading Royals

12-13-3-3, 30 points, 3rd Atlantic Division, 9th Eastern Conference

94 GF, 108 GA

PP: 28-for-145 (19.3%), 8th

PK: 115-for-141 (81.6%), 10th

Active Leaders

Goals: Labelle (16)

Assists: Tifu (18)

Points: Labelle (27)

Penalty Minutes: Labelle (93)

+/-: Tifu (+6)

Wins: Owuya, Palmer (5)

GAA: Owuya (2.94)

Sv%: Owuya (.923)

The Nailers return home to WesBanco Arena on Saturday night for a 7:35 face-off against the Reading Royals. 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: Fri. Jan., 6th - 7:35PM

vs.

RONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITY NIGHT

Friday January 6th, the Wheeling Nailers will host theCincinnati Cyclones at WesBanco Arena. The Nailers will be wearing special red jerseys to help raise funds for the Morgantown Ronald McDonald House. Following the game there will be a LIVE jersey auction.

FREE YOUTH SKI CAP GIVEAWAY JAN. 7TH

Saturday January 7th, the Wheeling Nailers will host the South Carolina Stingrays at WesBanco Arena. The first 1,000 kids 14 & under through the gates will receive a free Nailers Ski Cap courtesy of the WesBanco

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics



ECHL Stories from December 31, 2011


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