Nailers Game Preview: Wheeling Nailers Vs. Trenton Titans
December 7, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
On Wednesday night, the Wheeling Nailers and Trenton Titans will meet up for the second time in five days, as well as the sixth time this season, when the two sides collide at Sun Bank National Center.
Since the Nailers and Titans last met on Saturday night at WesBanco Arena, Trenton has been in action once, falling 2-1 in a shootout against the Elmira Jackals on Sunday afternoon. The win allowed the Jackals to pass Wheeling for first place in the Atlantic Division, although both Elmira and Trenton have both played in four more games than the Nailers thus far. With a 6-6-0-0 record in their last 12 contests, Wheeling enters the game with a mark of 11-6-0-0, which is good for 22 points. Thanks to their one point on Sunday, the Titans were able to gain sole possession of third place in the Atlantic Division, passing the Reading Royals. Trenton currently owns an 8-10-1-2 record, which is good for 19 points.
In Saturday night's battle between the Nailers and Titans, visiting Trenton got off to an extremely fast start, as Jean-Sebastien Berube started the scoring at the 13-second mark of the opening stanza. Christiaan Minella evened the score midway through the frame, before Rob Bordson put the Titans back on top with 5:48 left to go. Denver Manderson tied the game at two for Wheeling at the 10:10 mark of the second period, but once again, Trenton regained the lead. Berube netted his second of the game with a power play tally at 15:14 of the second, and Adam Presizniuk added to the advantage with an even strength goal early in the third. The two teams exchanged goals in the final minute, with Mitch Versteeg scoring an empty netter for the Titans, and Denver Manderson scoring on the power play for the Nailers. Dave Caruso picked up the win with 41 saves for Trenton, defeating Peter Delmas, who stopped 15 of 19 shots for Wheeling.
This will be the sixth head-to-head meeting of the season between the Nailers and Titans, with Wheeling having won each of the first three games, before Trenton responded with wins in both of the recent two tilts. The Nailers' victories have been by scores of 6-4, 5-1, and 3-2 (OT), while the Titans' wins were by scores of 3-2 and 5-3. Wheeling's 5-1 triumph on November 5th was the only one of the five previous matches that took place at Sun National Bank Center in Trenton. The Nailers' Chris Barton leads the way with seven points (2g, 5a) in the season series, and is followed closely behind by Patrick Johnson, who has six points (1g, 5a) in the five games. Ryan Hayes leads the Titans with five points (0g, 5a) against Wheeling. All four goaltenders that have appeared in the season series have earned victories, with Peter Delmas being the lone netminder to win twice.
The Nailers return to WesBanco Arena on Friday night to battle the Reading Royals. Face-off is set for 7:35PM. Friday night will feature $1 draft beer and the inaugural Nailers Wing Fest. Fans will be able to sample local vendor's wings and help select a grand champion.
On Saturday night the Nailers will host the Trenton Titans at WesBanco Arena. The first 2,000 fans will receive a free Nailers T-Shirt courtesy of WesBanco Bank, The McLure Hotel, Panhandle Cleaning, and Generations Pub. For ticket information or to order tickets call 304-234-GOAL or online at shop.wheelingnailers.com.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Wheeling Nailers
11-6-0-0, 22 points, 2nd Atlantic Division, T-7th Eastern Conference
63 GF, 47 GA
PP: 12-for-73 (16.4%), 16th
PK: 55-for-72 (76.4%), 18th
Active Leaders
Goals: Barton (14)
Assists: Hansen (11)
Points: Barton (23)
Penalty Minutes: Torquato (48)
+/-: Crowder (+11)
Wins: Killeen (6)
GAA: Delmas (2.32)
Sv%: Delmas (.900)
Trenton Titans
8-10-1-2, 19 points, 3rd Atlantic Division, 9th Eastern Conference
67 GF, 75 GA
PP: 21-for-92 (22.8%), 4th
PK: 58-for-75 (77.3%), 17th
Active Leaders
Goals: Bohmbach (12)
Assists: Bordson (12)
Points: Bordson (21)
Penalty Minutes: Versteeg (27)
+/-: Kearney (+7)
Wins: Caruso (6)
GAA: Phillips (3.37)
Sv%: Phillips (.896)
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