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ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Game Preview: Trenton Titans Vs Wheeling Nailers

December 3, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


On Saturday night, the Wheeling Nailers will play their first game at WesBanco Arena since November 15th, when they welcome the Trenton Titans to town for a 7:35 face-off.

Both the Nailers and Titans have been playing above average hockey as of late, as Wheeling has won six of its last ten games, while Trenton has earned at least one point in seven of its last ten games. The Nailers continue to lead the Atlantic Division, entering the game with an 11-5-0-0 record, which is good for 22 points. With Elmira's victory last night, the lead remains at two points, but Wheeling also has three games in hand on the Jackals. Reading is currently in third place, trailing the Nailers by four points, while having played in five more games to this point in the season. Meanwhile, the Titans enter this contest in fourth place, with a record of 7-10-1-1, which is good for 16 points. Although they trail the Royals by two points for third place, Trenton does have two games in hand on Reading.

Speaking of Reading, that's where the Nailers were on Friday night, when they were able to secure two more points in the standings. Chris Barton and Patrick Johnson opened the scoring midway through the opening period, lighting the lamp twice in a span of 24 seconds. Barton kept the offense going early in the second period, connecting on a power play goal for his 14th tally of the season, knocking Royals' starting goaltender Joe Palmer out of the contest. Karel St. Laurent wasn't exactly given a friendly welcome either, as newcomer Adam Ross cashed in for his first professional goal, scoring shorthanded at 4:25. Christiaan Minella added another goal in the middle frame, as visiting Wheeling built a 5-0 lead. The Royals scored once in the third period, but that was all, as Patrick Killeen made 20 saves for his sixth victory of the season.

The Titans were also in action on Friday night, as they visited the Elmira Jackals at First Arena. This was a bit of a back-and-forth affair, despite the fact that Trenton only had the lead once. That lead came midway through the first period, when Rob Bordson started the scoring with his seventh goal of the year. The Jackals scored twice in the early part of the second period to take the lead themselves, before Andy Bohmbach's power play goal evened things up. Elmira took a 3-2 lead in the second period, then added to it with a shorthanded goal early in the third. However, Trenton wasn't about to go away easily, as Rob Bordson brought his team within one at 10:21, and Randy Rowe tied the score with 23 seconds left in regulation. The contest ultimately needed a shootout to decide a winner, and that game went Elmira's way, as they scored twice on four shots, while the Titans went 0-for-4. Dave Caruso took the shootout loss in goal for the Titans, despite making 34 saves in the game.

This will be the fifth head-to-head meeting of the season between the Nailers and Titans, with Wheeling having won three of the first four. The Nailers took the lone meeting at WesBanco Arena, 6-4 on October 29th, as well as the only meeting at Sun National Bank Center, 5-1 on November 5th. The teams then split a pair of games at Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, with the Nailers winning the first game 3-2 in overtime, and the Titans answering with a 3-2 regulation win in the second game. Chris Barton leads the teams with seven head-to-head points, and is followed by Patrick Johnson, who has five. Three different members of the Titans have three points in the four games. All four netminders have played twice, with Peter Delmas leading the way, winning both of his starts. Brad Phillips has Trenton's lone win against Wheeling.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Wheeling Nailers

11-5-0-0, 22 points, 1st Atlantic Division, 3rd Eastern Conference

60 GF, 42 GA

PP: 11-for-70 (15.7%), 17th

PK: 54-for-70 (77.1%), 18th

Active Leaders

Goals: Barton (14)

Assists: Hansen (11)

Points: Barton (23)

Penalty Minutes: Torquato (48)

+/-: Crowder (+11)

Wins: Killeen (6)

GAA: Delmas (2.06)

Sv%: Delmas (.913)

Trenton Titans

7-10-1-1, 16 points, 4th Atlantic Division, T-14th Eastern Conference

61 GF, 70 GA

PP: 20-for-87 (23.0%), 4th

PK: 54-for-69 (78.3%), 16th

Active Leaders

Goals: Bohmbach (12)

Assists: Bordson (12)

Points: Bohmbach, Bordson (20)

Penalty Minutes: Versteeg (27)

+/-: Kearney (+6)

Wins: Caruso (5)

GAA: Phillips (3.37)

Sv%: Phillips (.896)

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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