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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Game Preview: South Carolina Vs. Wheeling

January 7, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


SC Stingrays (15-16-1-1 32 Pts) vs Wheeling Nailers (17-11-1-1 36 Pts)

On Saturday night, the Wheeling Nailers continue their calendar opening homestand at WesBanco Arena, when they play host to the South Carolina Stingrays.

The Nailers opened the 2012 calendar year on Friday night, knocking off the Cincinnati Cyclones, and in doing so, keeping pace with the division leading Elmira Jackals, who won for the seventh time in a row. Wheeling also jumped past Chicago into sixth place in the Eastern Conference Standings, as the Express were destroyed 9-2 by the Reading Royals. Entering this contest, the Nailers' record currently sits at 17-11-1-1, which is good for 36 points. Elmira's victims on Friday were the South Carolina Stingrays, who are slumping as of late, having lost five straight games, and eight of their last ten. Those struggles have dropped the Stingrays to fourth place in the South Division, as well as ninth place in the Eastern Conference, as they enter this battle with a record of 15-16-1-1, which is good for 32 points.

Friday night's game marked the first head-to-head meeting of the season between the Nailers and Cyclones, despite the fact that Cincinnati is the team located the closest to Wheeling in the ECHL. The homestanding Nailers got off to a fast start in the contest, as Chris Barton and Scooter Vaughan quickly made the score 2-0, setting the stage for a high scoring opening 20 minutes of play. Barton added his second of the night later in the period, as Wheeling took a 3-2 lead into the first intermission. After a scoreless second period, Cody Chupp and Matt Lombardi lit the lamp in the third, lifting the Nailers to a 5-2 victory, as Peter Delmas stopped 29 shots. Barton and Paul Crowder both had three-points in the game, while Vaughan's first professional goal was part of a two-point performance for him.

The South Carolina Stingrays are in the midst of a long stretch of road games, as they only have one home game scheduled between December 26th and January 19th (a 6-3 loss to Florida on New Year's Eve). So far, the Stingrays' travels haven't been the friendliest, as they dropped a pair of games at Gwinnett, as well as one each in Greenville and Elmira. The contest with the Jackals was the most recent one, as Elmira used a three-goal third period to upend South Carolina, 3-2. For most of this season, the Stingrays have been relying on their goaltending, which has been led by rookie Philipp Grubauer. In 19 games, Grubauer is 10-7-2, with a 2.35 GAA, and a .917 Sv%. On the offensive side of things, South Carolina is led by Pierre-Luc O'Brien's 13 goals and 21 points, while Sean Dolan has dished out 13 assists in his 20 points. Zach Tarkir is the leading defensive scorer for the Stingrays, having put up 14 points in 33 games. South Carolina is tied with Wheeling and Cincinnati for the fewest goals allowed in the Eastern Conference (85), but only Utah has scored fewer goals than the Stingrays, who have found the twine 81 times.

Billy Ryan is the lone member of the Stingrays to have suited up for the Nailers in his career, spending parts of two seasons in Wheeling from 2008-10. During that time, Ryan frequently appeared on the scoresheet, recording 15 goals, 19 assists, and 34 points in 34 games. Wheeling does not have any former South Carolina players on their roster.

This is the second and final meeting of the season between Wheeling and South Carolina, after the Nailers secured a 4-1 victory on October 15th at North Charleston Coliseum. Chris Barton (2), Patrick Johnson, and Matt Lombardi netted the goals for Wheeling, who was backstopped by a 17-save effort from Patrick Killeen. Matt Pope scored South Carolina's lone goal, while Daren Machesney made 30 saves in the defeat.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Wheeling Nailers

17-11-1-1, 36 points, 2nd Atlantic Division, 6th Eastern Conference

101 GF, 85 GA

PP: 23-for-128 (18.0%), 11th

PK: 100-for-121 (82.6%), 8th

Active Leaders

Goals: Barton (17)

Assists: Crowder, Torquato (17)

Points: Barton (31)

Penalty Minutes: Ross (70)

+/-: Bushee (+11)

Wins: Delmas (7)

GAA: Delmas (2.36)

Sv%: Delmas (.906)

South Carolina Stingrays

15-16-1-1, 32 points, 4th South Division, 9th Eastern Conference

81 GF, 85 GA

PP: 24-for-161 (14.9%), 17th

PK: 136-for-158 (86.1%), 2nd

Active Leaders

Goals: O'Brien (13)

Assists: Dolan (13)

Points: O'Brien (21)

Penalty Minutes: Paquette (116)

+/-: Kroll (+11)

Wins: Grubauer (10)

GAA: Grubauer (2.35)

Sv%: Grubauer (.917)

Saturday's game between the Nailers and Stingrays at WesBanco Arena begins at 7:35. 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

vs.

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




ECHL Stories from January 7, 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.

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