Nailers Game Preview: Toledo Walley Vs. Wheeling
January 11, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Toledo Walleye (13-18-0-1 27 Pts) vs. Wheeling Nailers (18-12-1-1 38 Pts)
On Wednesday night, the Wheeling Nailers will play their eleventh and final different opponent in the 2011-12 season, when they play host to the Toledo Walleye at WesBanco Arena.
The Nailers are coming off of a four-point weekend, which allowed them to maintain their sixth place position in the Eastern Conference Standings. Wheeling enters the week with a record of 18-12-1-1, which is good for 38 points, as well as second place in the Atlantic Division. Due to how close the conference standings are, a Nailers victory on Wednesday could catapult them into a tie for fourth place, while they could only drop as low as seventh with a defeat. The Walleye enter Wednesday night's contest in the cellar of both the North Division and the Eastern Conference, as they have accumulated a record of 13-18-0-1, which is good for 27 points. Toledo currently trails Trenton by three points in the conference, while trailing Cincinnati by five points in the division.
Last weekend, the Nailers took the ice three times, and came away with two victories, as they knocked off Cincinnati on Friday and Greenville on Sunday, with a loss to South Carolina sandwiched in the middle on Saturday. Chris Barton led the way in the scoring department last weekend, posting four goals, two assists, and six points, with multiple point games on both Friday and Sunday. Kyle Bushee also had a productive weekend, as he dished out six assists, including four in Sunday's triumph against the Road Warriors. After missing three weeks due to injury, Peter Delmas returned to the crease for all three tilts, and stopped 92 of 100 shots, including a season-high 40-save effort on Sunday. Wheeling will have three new faces in the lineup, as they look to build off of this recent success, as Jordon Southorn and Peter Lenes were acquired from the Trenton Titans, while Brian Day was assigned to the Nailers from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
The Toledo Walleye enter the contest on the heels of five consecutive losses, with four of those setbacks taking place at Huntington Center. Last weekend, the Walleye fell 5-2 to Trenton on Friday, 4-1 against Greenville on Saturday, and 3-2 when they faced South Carolina on Sunday. After being acquired in a trade with the Chicago Express, Rob Nolan made the start in goal for Toledo in all three games, making 80 saves on 91 shots. In 19 ECHL appearances this season, Nolan is 6-11-1, with a 3.11 GAA, and an .892 Sv%. Offensively, the Walleye are led by Kyle Rogers, who has 11 assists and 19 points in 32 games. Defenseman Bryan Rufenach is the leading goal scorer on the team with nine tallies, while also leading the blueline with 17 points in 28 games. Despite playing in just 12 games, rookie Adam Estoclet has a commanding lead in the plus/minus category, with a plus-12 rating.
When it comes to players facing their former teams, Zack Torquato will be facing Toledo for the first time in his career, after suiting up for them in 54 games last season. During that time, the former sixth round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings recorded 11 goals, 33 assists, and 44 points. Although he has never played a game for the Walleye, Joe Tolles is a native of Toledo, and will be playing in his first game in his hometown on Friday. For the Walleye, Jeremy Tucker appeared in two games with the Nailers during the 2010-11 season, netting one goal.
This is the first of nine meetings between the Wheeling and Toledo, as well as the first of five Nailers home games against the Walleye.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Wheeling Nailers
18-12-1-1, 38 points, 2nd Atlantic Division, 6th Eastern Conference
107 GF, 91 GA
PP: 24-for-136 (17.6%), 11th
PK: 108-for-132 (81.8%), 13th
Active Leaders
Goals: Barton (19)
Assists: Torquato (18)
Points: Barton (34)
Penalty Minutes: Ross (72)
+/-: Bushee (+15)
Wins: Delmas (8)
GAA: Delmas (2.47)
Sv%: Delmas (.908)
Toledo Walleye
13-18-0-1, 27 points, 4th North Division, 12th Eastern Conference
90 GF, 105 GA
PP: 22-for-137 (16.1%), 15th
PK: 117-for-141 (83.0%), 6th
Active Leaders
Goals: Rufenach (9)
Assists: Rogers (11)
Points: Rogers (19)
Penalty Minutes: Krug (66)
+/-: Estoclet (+12)
Wins: Nolan (6)
GAA: Nolan (3.11)
Sv%: Nolan (.892)
Wednesday's game between the Nailers and Walleye at WesBanco Arena begins at 7:00. 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.
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