Nailers Have Final Game With Johnstown
Published on March 13, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Wheeling Nailers News Release
Saturday March 13th, 7:05pm (Cambria County War Memorial Arena, Johnstown, PA)-Wheeling Nailers at Johnstown Chiefs
Sunday March 14th 3:05pm (WesBanco Arena, Wheeling, WV)-Kalamazoo Wings vs. Wheeling Nailers
American Conference Standings
(Top 8 qualify for Kelly Cup Playoffs in April)
1. South Carolina Stingrays 85
2. Cincinnati Cyclones 79
3. Elmira Jackals 71
4. Kalamazoo Wings 78
5. Charlotte Checkers 73
6. Florida Everblades 73
7. Toledo Walleye 67
8. Reading Royals 64
9. Gwinnett Gladiators 63
10. Wheeling Nailers 62
10. Trenton Devils 62
12. Johnstown Chiefs 43
Preview
Wheeling is back in action this weekend starting play in their last 10 games of the regular season. The Nailers are tied for 10th place in the American Conference and are just two points back of 8th place Reading for the final playoff spot in the American Conference.
The Nailers are off Friday before going to Johnstown for a Saturday game at 7:05pm game versus the Johnstown Chiefs.
The Nailers begin a 5 game series with the Kalamazoo Wings at WesBanco Arena on Sunday, March 14th at 3:05 that will feature a post-game open skate with Nailers players as part of every Sunday home game. Be sure to bring your skates and gloves$B!D(Band don't forget your camera!
Earlier on Sunday is the annual Guns and Hoses benefit game. Members of the Wheeling Police and Fire Departments will play members of the Pittsburgh Police and Fire Departments to benefit charity. The Guns and Hoses Benefit game begins at 1:05.
Wheeling's record is 28-28-6 overall this season, two points of the 8th place Reading Royals. This season Wheeling is 6-1-3 vs. the Chiefs and this will be their final meeting. The Nailers have played four of their scheduled nine games with Kalamazoo. Wheeling's record vs. Kalamazoo is 2-1-1 this year.
The Johnstown Chiefs record is 17-35-11, leaving them 4th in the East and 12th in the American Conference. The Chiefs ended a 5 game winless skid (0-2-3) on Friday night with a 7-2 thrashing of the Reading Royals. That win also helped the Wheeling Nailers who are currently chasing after Reading in the standings.
This is the 173rd and final game in the long and storied rivalry between the Wheeling organization and the Johnstown Chiefs. Johnstown is the last of the original franchises of the ECHL and will be moving to Greenville, SC next season. Wheeling's record all-time against Johnstown is 91-60-21. The Wheeling and Johnstown organizations have played each other more than any other two teams in ECHL history. Technically, the league's longest all-time series will continue into the future with any games Wheeling plays against Greenville.
The Kalamazoo Wings have a record of 35-17-8, 2nd in the East and 4th in the American Conference. The Wings are on an 11 game unbeaten-in-regulation streak at 9-0-2 following a win at Elmira yesterday. This is their first trip to Wheeling since a 10-1 loss February 6.
Nailers Ticket News:
Bring a ticket stub from this weekend's Toughman competition at WesBanco Arena and get $10 admission for this Sunday's game against Kalamazoo.
Season Ticket Packages for 2010-2011 Wheeling Nailers hockey excitement will go on sale soon. You can reserve or renew your package for the upcoming season for a low down payment of $50. Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL for more information.
Playoff ticket packages are on sale now at the Wheeling Nailers office. Unused playoff tickets will go towards game tickets or season tickets for 2010-2011.
The game for Friday, April 2nd is already over 3,000 tickets sold and tickets for this important game against the Reading Royals are going fast. The first 2500 fans in attendance get a Nailers Baby-Blue BallCap courtesy of Main Street Bank. Fans are encouraged to get their tickets ahead of time.
Notes:
Head Coach Greg Puhalski and other players have stated that they believe Wheeling needs to go 8-2-0 in their last 10 games to make the post-season. So every game and every point is vitally important now. It's important to note that 8-2-0 is just an estimate and a guess and depends on what the other teams around the Nailers do as well. It's possible the Nailers could go 7-3-0 or even 6-4-0 and make the playoffs too but that would require more help from other teams than 8-2-0 of course.
The Nailers announced Wednesday that Left Winger Casey Pierro-Zabotel was reassigned to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He tallied 3 goals and 3 assists for a total of 6 points in his last 7 games with Wheeling. He had previously been reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on January 21, 2010 where he appeared in 7 games before returning to Wheeling.
Goalie Adam Berkhoel has been activated from the injured reserve and is eligible to play in this weekend's games.
This is Wheeling's last match up with the Johnstown Chiefs in the regular season. The Nailers are 5-1-3 against the Chiefs this season. 6 out of the 9 games were sent into overtime or a shootout. The teams are 3-3 against each other in the overtime and shootout games.
Sunday afternoon's game will be the first of a 5 game series with the Kalamazoo Wings (with one game against Toledo within the series). The Nailers' record against the K-Wings is 2-1-1. The Wings are 9-0-2 in their last 11 games. Wheeling returns the favor to Kalamazoo with games in southwest Michigan on Wednesday (St. Patrick's Day) and Friday of next week. Then the Wings come back to Wheeling next Saturday night for another contest.
The Nailers are in 10th place in the American Conference with 62 points, only 2 points away from playoff berth. The top 8 teams qualify for the Kelly Cup playoffs in April.
After Saturday's game there are only 9 games remaining in the regular season, 6 home games and 3 on the road.
Andrew Lord is 2nd in the league in major penalties with 20, tied with Brett Gallant of Elmira and T.J. Reynolds of Charlotte.
Aaron Clarke along with Scott Burt of Alaska and Brian McGuirk of Kalamazoo lead the ECHL with 4 shorthanded goals this season.
Mitch Ganzak leads the ECHL defensemen with 36 assists. Ganzak is 5th in the league and 2nd among defensemen with 19 power play assists. He also leads active defensemen with 4 shoot out goals and a 0.571 shootout percent.
Ryan Schnell has 143 penalty minutes and 15 major penalties to place him 2nd among ECHL rookies in both categories.
Kyle Bushee leads the defensemen along with 4 others with 3 short handed points.
Wheeling's power play is 7th in the league at 18.9% (61 for 323) and penalty killing is 5th in the league at 83.2% (57 for 340).
Don't forget that March 14th is Daylight Savings Time. Set your clocks ahead one hour late Saturday night or early Sunday morning so you don't end up arriving late for our next game.
Last Week
The Nailers entered this past weekend with a 3 game home stand beginning with the Charlotte Checkers and back-to-back games with the Trenton Devils, in which the Nailers finished 1-1-1.
Friday night, the Nailers earned a standings point in a hard fought game with Charlotte, losing in a shootout 3-2. After a quick Charlotte goal, Nailer Kyle Bushee cut into the slot and blasted it home for his 6th goal of the season to tie the game. After another goal by the Checkers and great goaltending, the Nailers were down 2-1 with under a minute left. Wheeling pulled goalie Teslak for a 6-on-4 man advantage and with just 50 seconds left Aaron Clarke put the puck in the net to retie the game. The Nailers ended up losing in the shootout but gained a valuable point.
Saturday, The Nailers took on the Trenton Devils but ended up on the short end of the stick. Three 3rd period goals by Trenton sealed the game for the Devils. Pierro-Zabotel scored his 12th goal of the season in the 2nd period and Blair Yaworski followed that up by tallying a shorthanded goal later in the period. Finally Billy Ryan (3) scored a goal in the 3rd but to no avail. The Nailers lost 6-3.
Sunday's matinee game was the Nailers best of the weekend, coming away with a big 5-3 victory in the second game of a miniseries with Trenton. 5 minutes into the game, Forward T.J. Fox blasted in his first goal of the game giving the Nailers a 1-0 lead. Once the Devils tied the game in the 2nd, the Nailers wasted no time taking the lead back when Aaron Clarke scored his 18th goal of the season and second of the weekend. In the final frame, a pair of 3rd period power play goals by T.J. Fox and Jon D'Aversa broke a 2-2 tie and lifted the Nailers to a 5-3 victory over the Trenton Devils.
Saturday-Wheeling Nailers (28-28-6) 62
Johnstown Chiefs (17-35-11) 43
Sunday- Wheeling Nailers (28-28-6) 62
Kalamazoo Wings (35-17-8) 78
Head Coach:
Wheeling-Greg Puhalski (3rd season with Wheeling, 16th in professional hockey)
Johnstown-Neil Smith
Kalamazoo-Nick Bootland
Affiliation:
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL)
Johnstown- Minnesota Wild (NHL), Houston Aeros (AHL)
Kalamazoo- Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), San Jose Sharks (NHL), Adirondack Phantoms (AHL), Worcester Sharks (AHL)
Top Nailers
Wheeling-T.J. Fox (22-27-49), Aaron Clarke (19-25-44), Mitch Ganzak (7-36-43)
Jordan Fox (16-26-42),
Top Chiefs
Johnstown-Chanse Fitzpatrick (26-28-54), Connor Shields (25-28-53), Troy Schwab (16-30-46), Bryan Marshall (19-21-40)
Top Wings
Kalamazoo-Rick Cleaver (26-31-57), Andrew Foumier (19-32-51), Sam Ftorek (15-26-41)
Top Goalies
Wheeling-Michael-Lee Teslak (12-16-5, 3.51, 0.878%) w/ WHL (7-11-3, 3.83, 0. 872%)
Johnstown-John Murray (5-20-4, 3.93, 0.881%) w/ JHN (5-16-4, 3.94, 0.882%), Kris Mayotte (7-12-5, 3.95, 0.888%)
Kalamazoo-Ryan Nie (21-9-3, 2.95, 0.908%)
Upcoming Games:
Wednesday March 17th @ Kalamazoo 7:00pm
Friday March 19th @ Kalamazoo 7:30pm
Saturday March 20th Vs Kalamazoo 7:35pm
Sunday March 21st Vs Toledo 3:05pm
Friday March 26th Vs Kalamazoo 7:35pm
Saturday March 27th @ Toledo 7:00pm
Friday April 2nd Vs Reading 7:35pm
Saturday April 3rd Vs Cincinnati 7:35pm
Upcoming Promotions!
Tuesday, March 9th - Meet the Nailers! The team will be appearing at Perkins on National Road in Wheeling from 6-8 p.m.
Sunday March 14th - Sunday at 1pm is the annual Guns and Hoses benefit game. Members of the Wheeling Police and Fire Departments will play members of the Pittsburgh Police and Fire Departments to benefit charity. The Guns and Hoses Benefit game begins at 1:05.
Saturday, March 20th - Affiliation Night celebrating the Penguins organization. Wheeling to wear the Baby Blue Penguins replica jerseys for the last time to be auctioned on eBay.
Sunday, March 21st - Pups and Pucks. Bring your dog to the game and cheer on the Nailers with man's best friend!
Friday, March 26th - Team Poster Giveaway Night for the first 2500 fans and Team Autograph Night after the game with the entire Nailers team appearing.
Friday, April 2nd - Nailers Baby Blue Ball-Cap Giveaway for the first 2500 fans courtesy of Main Street Bank.
Saturday, April 3rd - Fan Appreciation Night and Ticket Extravaganza. Lots of gifts and prizes on the last game of the regular season.
Experience Counts:
Greg Puhalski is entering his 16th year at the bench and 3rdfor the Nailers. He is second among all ECHL coaches with 601 coming into this season trailing only Steve Martinson who had 650 wins entering this year. Puhalski has over 200 ECHL wins dating back to the beginning of his coaching career with the Toledo Storm from 1994-98.
Right-Hand Man:
Greg Puhalski has an assistant coach on the staff this year. Doug Doull joins the Nailers and the Penguins organization after doing some coaching in Canadian University hockey for a couple seasons following his 8 year playing career in the AHL and NHL. Doull fought some of the NHL's toughest customers in his time with the Boston Bruins in 2003-04. He played 37 games in the NHL mostly with Boston (and 2 with Washington) and racked up 151 PIM's. His AHL career included stays with Hershey, San Antonio, Utah, Providence, St. John's, Saint John and with other AAA level teams in the old IHL in the late 90's with Michigan (now Kalamazoo), Detroit Vipers and Manitoba.
Call the Nailers at 304-234-GOAL or toll-free at 1-877-NAIL-TIX. Get your tickets online at the team's website at wheelingnailers.com.
ECHL Stories from March 13, 2010
- Idaho earns 5-3 win over Victoria - Idaho Steelheads
- Steelheads win fifth straight - Idaho Steelheads
- Wranglers Ground Condors 6-2 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Royals Pull Out Shootout Win Over Toledo, 5-4 - Reading Royals
- Wranglers defeat Condors, 6-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Stockton Takes Overtime Contest 6-5; Series Completes Sunday At 4 - Utah Grizzlies
- Chiefs falter against Nailers - Johnstown Chiefs
- Tyler Donati sets team scoring record as Jackals take point - Elmira Jackals
- Kunes Leads Surge Past K-Zoo, 5-4 - Trenton Devils
- Cyclones Win 'Special' In Overtime Thriller At Elmira - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Checkers Hold Off Gladiators 4-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Checkers Hold Off Gladiators 4-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Pink In The Rink A Success; Charlotte Now 4-0-1 In Last Five - Charlotte Checkers
- Nailers say goodbye to long rivals - Wheeling Nailers
- Kalamazoo Unbeaten Streak Snapped by Trenton - Kalamazoo Wings
- Stingrays Clinch Playoff Spot in 2-1 OT Loss to Everblades - South Carolina Stingrays
- Inspector Gajic Gives Florida a Victory Over South Carolina - Florida Everblades
- Galivan Recalled To Chicago Wolves - Atlanta Gladiators
- Joey Ryan Assigned To Reading - Reading Royals
- Maxime Lacroix Returns To Cyclones - Cincinnati Cyclones
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Reading's Giliati Fined, Suspended - ECHL
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder At Utah Grizzlies - Stockton Thunder
- Reign Shutout By Aces, 2-0 - Ontario Reign
- Nailers Have Final Game With Johnstown - Wheeling Nailers
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Jackals Game Preview: Cincinnati At Elmira - Elmira Jackals
- Countdown To Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Stingrays Gameday: Stingrays Battle Everblades On Faith And Fun Night - South Carolina Stingrays
- Aces shut out Reign in front of 6,000+ - Alaska Aces
- Royals Shelled by Chiefs, 7-2 - Reading Royals
- Mark McCutcheon's hat-trick propels Idaho in 7-1 victory over Victoria - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Thunder drop series opening game on Galbraith's pair of goals - Stockton Thunder
- Wranglers Edge Condors, 5-4 on Girl Scout Night - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Steelheads topple Salmon Kings - Idaho Steelheads
- Wranglers power past Condors, 5-4 - Bakersfield Condors
- Four-Goal Third Period Lifts Utah Over Stockton 5-2 - Utah Grizzlies
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