ECHL Wheeling Nailers

Nailers Game Preview: Wheeling Nailers Vs. Reading Royals

Published on December 2, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release


On Friday night, the Wheeling Nailers will begin the month of December with their first head-to-head meeting of the season against the Reading Royals at Sovereign Center.

The Nailers and Royals both got off to strong starts in the 2011-12 season, as Wheeling won each of their first five games, while Reading won five of their first nine games. Since then, the Nailers have maintained their hold of first place in the Atlantic Division, entering play this weekend with a 10-5-0-0 record, which is good for 20 points. Meanwhile, the Royals have struggled as of late, dropping six straight games to fall into a second place tie with the Elmira Jackals. Elmira has two games in hand on Reading, who enters the weekend with a 7-9-2-2 record, good for 18 points. Wheeling has games in hand on all three of their divisional opponents, having played just 15 game, while Elmira and Trenton have played 18, and Reading has played 20.

This will be the Nailers' first game in exactly one week, as they were last in action last Friday, when they completed a quick two-game series on the road against the Gwinnett Gladiators. Wheeling won the first game, 5-1 at Gwinnett, then fell short in the second game, 3-1. Peter Delmas got the start in goal for both contests, stopping 44 of 48 shots, running his record to 5-2 on the season. Cody Chupp picked up goals in both games, while Chris Barton was able to extend his point streak to ten games on Thursday, before seeing it come to an end on Friday. Ben Farrer also extended a streak to Thursday, scoring a goal in four straight games, before being held off of the scoresheet on Friday. The Nailers' special teams were solid last week, as the power play connected for three goals, while the penalty kill allowed the Gladiators to light the lamp just once.

The Royals were in action three times last week, and have played once thus far this week. The Chicago Express got the best of Reading with two straight regulation wins last Wednesday and Friday, before turning things over to the Elmira Jackals, who edged the Royals in overtime last Saturday, and in a shootout this Wednesday. Olivier Labelle has been Reading's top scorer with 11 goals and 18 points in 20 games, while Yannick Riendeau is on a point-per-game pace, having clicked for 15 points in 15 contests, including a seven-game point streak at the beginning of November. Between the pipes, Joe Palmer has a 4-4-1 mark in 13 appearances, while Karel St. Laurent is 2-5-0 in seven games.

The aforementioned Joey Haddad joins Tyler Murovich and John Wroblewski as members of the Gladiators that spent time with the Wheeling Nailers. Haddad played in parts of two seasons with the Nailers, scoring 28 goals, 35 assists, and 63 points in 84 games. Murovich had five goals, five assists, and ten points in 20 games with Wheeling. Wroblewski served as Stan Drulia's assistant coach for last season's run to the Eastern Conference Final.

In terms of old faces in new places, the Royals' roster doesn't currently consist of any former Nailers.

On Saturday night, the Nailers will return to WesBanco Arena for a 7:35 face-off against the Trenton Titans.For tickets call 304-234-4625 or online at shop.wheelingnailers.com.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Wheeling Nailers

10-5-0-0, 20 points, 1st Atlantic Division, 3rd Eastern Conference

55 GF, 41 GA

PP: 10-for-65 (15.4%), 18th

PK: 50-for-66 (75.8%), 18th

Active Leaders

Goals: Barton (12)

Assists: Hansen (11)

Points: Barton (21)

Penalty Minutes: Torquato (46)

+/-: Crowder (+11)

Wins: Delmas, Killeen (5)

GAA: Delmas (2.06)

Sv%: Delmas (.913)

Reading Royals

7-9-2-2, 18 points, T-2nd Atlantic Division, T-8th Eastern Conference

57 GF, 71 GA

PP: 20-for-88 (22.7%), 5th

PK: 65-for-82 (79.3%), T-13th

Active Leaders

Goals: Labelle (11)

Assists: Kwiet, Riendeau, Urban (9)

Points: Labelle (18)

Penalty Minutes: Labelle (43)

+/-: McCauley (+3)

Wins: Palmer (4)

GAA: Palmer (2.92)

Sv%: Palmer (.920)

Check out the Wheeling Nailers Statistics

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